Owoye Azazi: In the memory of the living

Late General Azazi

The fatal helicopter crash of Saturday, December 15, 2012 took the lives of six Nigerians: Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State; the former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi; Special Adviser, Dauda Tsoho; Warrant Officer Mohammed Kamal and two Naval pilots, Commander Murtala Mohammed Daba and Lt. Adeyemi Sowole. May their friends and families find the strength to bear the pain and the grief their passing has caused. As a nation, we mourn their death, and we also celebrate their lives. And may these tragic and senseless events cease to be a constant feature of our individual and collective experience.

Of the four, I only knew Azazi too well. In the 10 or so years since I have known him, I have regarded him as a friend, brother and mentor. He knew of my travails and misgivings and troubles. And whenever he found any of my essays “off-mark” or “below” my intelligence, he’d say so. Every now and then, he’d actually get angry at me for my infractions.

We had not met since my days in Washington DC, and so he invited me to Texas, during the last weekend of September 2012. We talked about a series of local, state, and international affairs.We had our areas of agreement and our areas of disagreement. On the whole, it was a very fruitful weekend. He was concerned over what I wanted to do “in addition to your academic career,” while I was concerned over his “post-NSA life.” He made some practical suggestions; and I too offered what was on my mind. His post-NSA life was of special interest to me because this was a man with a healthy mountain of ideas.

As far as I was concerned, there were books to be written and academic fellowships and endowed positions to be considered. There was the need to give back to his immediate community; to consider the plight of the poor and the needy and to help bring government closer to the people – especially women and children. Many of Nigeria’s best and brightest usually have nothing to do once they leave office. I didn’t think he should just sit there and do nothing. Fortunate, I didn’t have to convince him: He had started work on some ideas, while a few others were on the drawing board.

Azazi was always willing to explain himself. He was always willing to clear the air; and was always willing to assuage the restless and the misinformed. I did not know him as a military man because I was never in the military. Nonetheless, I had known several top military officers. I had known some long before they became officers (Colonel and above). As I called around to see what type of an officer he was, there was a universal agreement: He was a first rate officer! Frankly, I wasn’t surprised. His brilliance and professionalism led to his being appointed the General Officer Commanding 1 Division in 2005. He went on to become the Chief of Army Staff in 2006; Chief of Defence Staff in 2007; and the National Security Adviser in 2010.

Azazi was not a complicated human being. I told him that he would have been a very good university professor (because) every good professor I know has a way of simplifying complex ideas and contemplations. What’s more, not for him that “do you know who I am?” mentality. He would not brag. He would not walk around needing to be acknowledged or to be worshipped. But unfortunately, a few of the people that I know didn’t like him. Some have told me that the General did not know how to play sectional, religious or party politics. That he placed too much emphasis on fairness and collectivity. And that he did not know how to “empower his people.” By this they mean that he did not distribute brown envelopes and Ghana-Must-Go bags. This seems like a compliment to me.

This was a man who would not give fishes, but enjoyed teaching people how to catch fish in the ocean and in raging rivers. He did not enjoy taking people to futile places, but enjoyed showing people how to safely get to the Promised Lands. Frankly, this was not a man who won popularity contests. He didn’t. He couldn’t. He hated sycophancy and mediocrity. He was not wasteful. He was measured. He was very clear in his thinking and in his actions and pronouncements. And especially in relations to the Boko Haram challenges, he made it known that certain measures and infrastructure needed to be put in place before the country could gain respectful measure of calm and security. He was not listened to, but was instead removed from office.

There were three issues on which we disagreed. The first was the Henry and Charles Okah matter. The second had to do with the Governor Timipre Sylva PDP-primary contest. And third, my criticism of the President displeased him greatly. For this, he called me Sabo. (Saboteur: that I was sabotaging the Jonathan administration.) You know, I never told him that I relished being tagged a Sabo. I called him up once and I said: “…General, this is Sabo calling.” He laughed!

Marcus Tulius Cicero it was who told us that “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.” I agree! Though General Andrew Owoye Azazi now resides with our ancestors; he will forever reside in the memory of the living. For many of us who knew him, he was a great man. He planted trees and flowers when and where they needed to be planted. He made the sky and the oceans bluer. He helped conquer thirst and fear and hesitations. And in the vast expanse of the Desert, he planted oases – knowing – that many who passed through would need such succour and comfort. His greatness will forever reside in my memory! And so I mourn the passing of my friend and brother and kinsman. I mourn the passing of a great Nigerian. Adieu, “My father’s younger brother!”

Culled from the Punch