Maj. Gen. Onoja: A Standing patriot at 69 “

Arise, O Compatriots” is the national anthem of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is now an open knowledge; that singular patriotic musical composition was adopted in 1978 by the then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, (a state man with many state land/voice marks). The anthem replaces the previous national anthem, Nigeria We Hail Thee, (an ancient clarion call to nationbuilding those of us above 50 years are still curiously nostalgic about). The point cannot be overstated; well before the 1978 patriotic beautiful lyrics to national duty, there have been some great compatriots who have long risen to “…serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith”.

In the age of “one-chance, on-line Republics”, and one Naira/emergency ethnic/regional chieftains, (ala restructuring) one notable Nigerian compatriot keeping faith with the Federal Republic of Nigeria (come rains, storms and sun shine) is General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) PhD, mni. He happily turned 69 on Thursday, the 10th of August, 2017. General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) mni was born on the 10th of August, 1948 at Idepka, Okpiko in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State. Kailash Purryag is the fifth President of Republic of Mauritius. She once observed (and I agree!) that “you need to be defined by your competence and not by your birth”. General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) had long acquired enormous competences such that while it is easier to define him as Idepka boy, it is a challenge to tame him as a Nigerian, African and indeed a global citizen. Witness these; He attended the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna briefly before proceeding to MONS officer cadet School Alder Shot Hans England for further officer Cadet Training where he was commissioned as a Combatant Regular officer on the 18th October 1968.

Between 1976 and 1979 he bagged B.Sc Political Science at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma again on (Army Scholarship) USA. Between 1979 and 1980 he had his M.Sc International Relations at same Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA again with Army Scholarship. Between 1990 and 1995, he had his PhD in Law and Diplomacy at University of Jos.

His scores of professional courses include; 1970 Infantry Young Officers Course, Jaji, 1973 Junior Command and Staff Course, Warminster, England, 1979-80 Senior Command and Staff Course, Jaji, Senior Executive Course No. 12. NIPSS, Kuru (Best Graduating Student with Head of State (IBB award!), 1981 Battalion Commander Course, Jaji, 1981 Defense Staff College, Wellington India, 1984-1985 Defense Adviser, Nigeria Embassy, Cairo, Egypt, and 1986 Principal Staff Officer to the President, Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Ibrahim. He was the Military Governor of Plateau State (1986-1988). He was also the pioneer Military Governor of Katsina State (1988-1990). Military regimes are generally loathed, but General Onoja according to Wikipedia was singled out for his honesty, fairness and justice to all. Between 1990 and 1992 he was the Principal Staff Officer to the Hon. Minister of Defense Staff, Gen. Sani Abacha. In 1992 he was a Member, Sudan Peace Committee for Reconciliation of Warring Factions in Sudan. From 1993 to 1995 he was Military Secretary Army. Between 1995 and 1996 General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division, NA, and was a Member of the Provisional Ruling Council from 1995 to1996. Between 1996 and 1998 he was the Principal General Staff Officer (Chief of Staff ), General Staff Headquarters - Aso Villa, Abuja. General Onoja in April 1, 1998 retired from Nigerian Army with full benefits.

The most remarkable trait of General Onoja is his political commitment. He was a Senatorial Candidate under ACN in 2011 and up to date he is a State EXCO of APC in Benue State. As a two term elected Secretary General of Alumni Association of the National Institute, (ANNI) Kuru, Jos, my intimate relationship with General Onoja who was also a two term President of the Association (2013 -2017) makes me to bear witness to his commitment and patriotism to Nigeria Project. I agree with Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, mni (SEC 1/1979), the founding President of ANNI, that Major General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) mni, the 9th ANNI president was the best in terms of innovations and deference to past leaderships and ANNI boards of patrons and trustees.

General Onoja led ANNI delegation on the tour of General Olusegun Obasanjo Library in January this year. The promoter of the Library and founder of NIPSS, former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was also presented with AANI TOWARDS A BETTER SOCIETY AWARD in recognition of the vision to set up NIPSS in 1979. Obasanjo not known for flattery hailed Onoja’s leadership of ANNI, (which the elated former President described “one of the unintended consequences of a purposeful policy action”) for his commitment to members’ general welfare. Onoja also in an unprecedented way spread AANI chapters to no less than 20 states and the Federal Capital with active members. His innovations include the first historic AANI Re-union which took place on Monday 12th January 2015 in Abuja also to mark the 36th anniversary of the prestigious annual Senior Executive Course (SEC).

His Excellency Mr. John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana was the distinguished Guest Speaker, whose address on the theme was delivered by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. Lt Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, GCON as a special Guest was represented by Major Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro mni. He also innovated the maiden edition of AANI Magazine launched at the 35th AGM, March 7th 2015. A special AGM edition at 37th AGM was also published. For the first time, three AANI Calendars for 2015, 2016 and 2017 were also produced. The maiden calendar (2015) was launched at the historic 35th AGM. The 2017 AANI Calendar was launched at the 37th AGM held in March. Remarkably AANI anthem as composed by Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, mni (SEC 36) was unanimously adopted by the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held Saturday March 7th 2015 as the official Anthem of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI).

As the supervising officer of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), AANI under Onoja engaged the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at various times to reposition NIPSS. The high point was the unprecedented Special Town Hall Meeting/Policy Dialogue on “Effective Implementation of the 2016 Budget” in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Tuesday August 9th, 2016 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja in furtherance of the noble objectives of AANI towards better society.

With membership that cuts across the critical success sectors of the economy undoubtedly AANI under General Onoja believed that the association is better positioned to positively assist the President Muhammad Buhari government in policy formulation and implementation. Inspired by the renewed activism in governance by President Buhari administration to link budget outcomes with target plans and with the successful launching of the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) for the 2016 budget, the Policy Dialogue therefore aimed at complimenting the efforts of the Federal government for effective implementation of the 2016 budget and to link budget outcomes with target plans.