Commander Jerry Omodara at 56: Celebrating A Magnanimous Leader with Excellent Qualities
By David Fidelis
I always say that in this life, I have come to discover that truly, some people are like candles that burn themselves to give light to others. Unequivocally, (Rtd) Navy Commander Duro Jerry Omodara Pjsc, Fss, Bsc; the State Security Adviser to Kogi State Government and CEO of Kogi Taste Kitchen is one of such candles.
The retired but not tired Navy Commander Duro Jerry Omodara (a.k.a. Uncle Jerry) clocks 56 years today, the 8th of August, 2019 as he was born on 8 August 1963 at Oke – Offin, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Sir, congratulations for this new height.
I was posted by National Youth Service Corps to undergo my one year mandatory service in his office on the 13th November, 2018. He received me with joy and reception as if he’s my biological father. Having spent 8 months with him, I concluded that truly, Commander Jerry Omodara is a magnanimous leader with excellent qualities, concomitantly, an astute and committed community developer with special interest in youth and women empowerment.
Despite being the State Security Adviser, he’s is currently the National President of Oke-Offin Development Association, Kogi State. A non-political Association that is centred on promotion of peace, youth development, establishment of good social relationships and preservation of customs, values and traditions heritage of the Community.
He is a member of Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) USA. He’s the Chairman, Bunu Development Association and in the just concluded Bunu Week, Jerry Omodara is the Chairman, Central Planning Committee saddle with the responsibility of ensuring the week goes promisingly. He’s the Pioneer and first organizing Chairman of Akofirin Cultural Festival; among other positions.
Few weeks ago while in office, Commander Jerry Omodara engaged in a tètè-a-tète with me and my fellow Corps Member serving in his office. He asked us ” Corper, who is General David Medayese Jemibewon? The too of us were looking like morons, we had no idea. Believe me, Jerry Omodara went on to educate us like a real teacher (no doubt, he’s a teacher). He said Rtd Major General David Medayese Jemibewon is a retired Nigerian Army major general who was born July 20, 1940vand served as military governor of the now defunct Western State between 1975 – 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed.
He went on to demonstrate with gesture like a persuasive speaker and added that the General was governor of Oyo State after it had been created from part of the old Western State and later as Minister of Police Affairs in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo after the return to democracy from 1999 – 2000). This is quite uncharacteristic of Nigerian leaders to engage in minor conversation with their workers or employee. Thus, Jerry Omodara deserve accolades for all his magnanimity and excellent leadership styles.
The magnanimity of Uncle Jerry speaks volume through his noble and generous spirit to the Kogites and the non-kogites. With the little time I’ve been with him, the number of people he has assisted in various levels keeps me wondering if he’s actually a Nigerian. He’s gallant Smart, intelligent, nice, loving, caring,marvelous, friendly, lovely, ambitious, responsible, outstanding, excellent listener, kind, benevolent, dedicated, exquisite, elegant, fantastic, optimistic, remarkable, thoughtful, unique,sympathetic and above all, he has the fear of God.
They say, behind a successful man, there is a successful woman, therefore, I will not be quoted wrong to say Mrs Bosede Omodara the wife of the State Security Adviser is behind his success story.
After the retirement of Commander Jerry Omodara from the Nigerian Navy on 26 March 2014, he was appointed by the Youth Friendly Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello was as the State Security Adviser to Kogi State Government on 1st June, 2016 the position he held till date. His appointment was based on his unquantifiable achievements and commitment to service while in the Nigerian Navy as well as his love and magnanimity to the people of Kogi State.
As parts of it’s determination and it’s loyalty to GYB to ensure security of lives and properties of the residents of the state, Commander Omodara, on the 7th September, 2016 inaugurated “Operation Total Freedom” on behalf of Gov. Yahaya Bello.
Operation Total Freedom, a Security apparatus comprising of Officer and men of the Nigeria Police, DSS, NSCDC and other Security agencies in the state aimed at defending Kogi residents against terrorism, kidnap, armed robbery and other criminal vices and ultimately cleanse the state of criminal elements.
No doubt, Governor Yahaya Bello administration has continued to give unflinching support to all security agencies in the state in order to achieve a secured, peaceful and economically viable state. It is therefore pertinent to state that the Governor knows that the cap of the state security Adviser fits Jerry Omodara going by the Yoruba proverb that says “flames of fire are sent to the plate” ( Omo Ina ni an ran si ina).
Uncle Jerry is a leader who believes that peace, development and tranquility can only thrive in a society where there is security as this is the bedrocks of social integration and economic prosperity in developed society.
Recently, while representing His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership and Governance Studies, University of Abuja, Jerry Omodara, spoke flawlessly on the theme ‘Renewed Efforts to Curb Insurgency and Spate of Insecurity in Nigeria: Kogi State in Focus where he pointed that Kogi State has transmogrified from being the kidnap capital of the nation and a violent crime epicentre when the Governor took Office in January, 2016 Kogi. He said, the state was rated the second most peaceful state in the nation and most peaceful in the North by the National Peace Index (NPI), 2018.
The story of Nigeria cannot be completed without mentioning leaders like Alhaji Shehu Shagari; President Muhammadu Buhari; Obafemi Awolowo; Nnamdi Azikwe; Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the story of Ghana cannot be told without making mention of Nkwame Nkrumah. The same way the liberation struggle in South Africa will always be dominated by the name of late Madiba, Dr. Nelson Mandela. No research work can be done on computers without giving ample credit to the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, while no narration on social media revolution could ever be completed without the name of Facebook founder, Mike Zukerberg. And of course, any research work on internet search engines must be repleted with the name of Google. In the light of these, the story of lasting peace, tranquility, development and the new direction government of the white Lion cannot be told without making mention of the immeasurable contributions of Jerry Omodara.
Commander Omodara has prepared himself for the Position of the State Security Adviser because early in life as a conscientious Naval officer with distinction, he held several appointments in the Nigerian Navy as a Public Relations and Protocol Officer. He was one time Staff Officer III, Naval Training Command (1998 – 99) Staff Officer II Information, Naval Headquarters (1999 – 2001), Public Relation Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff, Nigeria (2002 – 2003), Base Information Officer, Nigerian Naval Ship, DELTA (2004 – 2006), Staff Officer II (Press)Naval Headquarters (2006), Public Relation Officer, National Defence College (2006 – 2007), Staff Officer Information and Media Relations, Naval Headquarters (2008 – 2011), Command Information Officer, Western Naval Command, Lagos (2011 – 2013). The College Public Relations Officer, National Defence College, Nigeria (2013 – 2014) from where he retired from the service of the Nigerian Navy.
While in the service, he was Public Affairs Officer for the Nigerian Navy at Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational Maritime Exercise in Douala, Cameroon from 25 – 28 Feb 2013. He served as Head of Media Relations at the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference involving 23 Countries from the globe from 27 – 30 July 2013 in Calabar, Nigeria. He coordinated the Protocol for the Nigerian Navy at the First Offshore Patrol Vessels Africa Conference from 27 – 30 August 2013 in Lagos.
DJ Omodara started his primary education at LEA Primary School Oke – Offin, Haliru Abdul Teacher’s College Birnin Kebbi, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos. Certificates earned include, Grade II Teacher’s Certificate (1981), Certificate in Journalism (1984) Diploma in Law (1986) BSc Political Science/Education (1999). Diploma in Basic Protocols from the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy, Brussels, Belgium (2013).
The Commander enlisted into the Nigerian Navy as a Journalist in 1988 and received Basic Military Training at the Nigerian Navy Basic and Divisional Training School, Port-Harcourt Nigeria. He was Under Training Officer at the Nigerian Naval College OnuraOnne (1997) and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in 1998. He proceeded to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji for his Junior Staff Course in 2003.
The birthdays of most great men are often than not heralded with glowing tributes, heartfelt felicitations and princely celebrations. Commander Jerry Omodara is a man who has given his all for the sake of Okun nation and Kogi State in general and such a magnanimous leader with excellent qualities deserves nothing short of accolades and kingly birthday celebration.
On this note, I say “as you clock 63 years on this 8th Day of August 2019, you shall continually be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; your leaf also shall not wither nor wilder; and whatsoever you doeth shall prosper”. Amen!!
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