Omodara: Chief Security Extraordinaire »

The world over, in any specific assignment, there is always a leading character that is saddled with the responsibility of communicating clearly the sense of direction from the superior to team members that enable such team focus on achieving desired success.

This is not in anyway different from the scheme adopted by the New Direction Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in the area of security, when it came on board by appointing Navy Commander, Jerry Omodara FSS (retired) as the State Security Adviser.

This government’s decision in no small measure has made Kogi to become a state to be understudied in the area of security of lives and property.

The tactics and plan of action adopted by Governor Yahaya Bello’s government on how to curb the cruelty and the oppressive nature of arm bandits and criminalities have been overwhelmingly applauded by all for its effectiveness in making the hitherto volatile state safe.

The responsiveness of the present administration on the issue of safety of its environment, the citizens and the insatiable quest to get rid of these criminal elements consistently terrorising its boarders in the last four years, have no doubt made Kogi a reference point to other state governments.

The reason Omodara is seen as a the man behind the scene who dishes out the master’s order is no far-fetched; he ensures compliance by making the impossibilities possible, by curtailing and taming the high level of crime and criminality that were prevalent before 2016.

With a careful analogy of the deplorable security situation of Kogi State, before the emergence of this present administration that saw to the appointment of Navy Commander Omodara, (Retired) as its State Security Adviser, without bias has put the government on top of the situation. The serenity that followed his stewardship in the state as security chief have been adjudged as impactful, responsive and successful by security watchers.

Omodara whose feat in security through the support of the Kogi number one citizen, Governor Yahaya Bello is widely acknowledged, came to limelight in the last four years, after his appointment as the State Security Adviser.

He happens to be a year older today. And this piece has been carefully composed to celebrate his personality, as an honest, focused, credible, realistic and sensible leader, who deals with issues based on practical consideration, rather than theories. He has not failed his people and the government he is representing. He holds forth for Governor Bello as his eye in security matters.

His brief profile:

Navy Commander Jerry Omodara who was born on 8 August 1963 at Oke – Offin, Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State is widely travelled. He has visited over 22 countries of the world including USA, Canada, Belgium, Japan, Jamaica, China, Philippines, France and the Netherlands . Others are Trinidad and Tobago , UK, Kenya, Cameroon, Dubai, India Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Niger, etc. He has visited all the states in Nigeria.

He attended LGEA Primary School Oke – Offin, where he successfully obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, proceeded to Haliru Abdul Teacher’s College BirninKebbi, and obtained his West African Examination Council ((WAEC) certificate. His insatiable quest for higher education took him to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Lagos State University, Ojo Lagos, where he bagged Diploma in Law, BSc Political Science/Education and certificate in Journalism from Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos respectively. He equally did a Course on National Security at Galilee Institute, Israel.

The Kogi-born security chief is a member of many professional bodies that bordered on security, diplomatic protocol, journalism and education. These 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). 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.

Consequently, while in the service, he coordinated protocol and media related seminars, workshops, exercises and conferences for the Nigerian Navy. He was Public Affairs Officer for the Nigerian Navy at Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational Maritime Exercise in Douala, Cameroon in 2013. Served as Head of Media Relations at the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Conference involving 23 Countries from the globe from also in July 2013 in Calabar, Nigeria. He equally coordinated the Protocol for the Nigerian Navy at the First Offshore Patrol Vessels Africa Conference in August in Lagos.

He is an ardent and committed community developer with special interest in youth and women empowerment and 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.

For his outstanding performances, he won many awards and was decorated with; Pass Junior Staff College (PJSC), Forces Service Star (FSS). He is a member of Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA) USA.

His hobbies include; watching nature, watching wild documentaries and gardening.

He is married to Mrs Bosede Omodara and they are blessed with children, His life philosophy is hinged on service and service delivery. Commander Jerry Omodara retired from the Nigerian Navy on 26 March 2014 and was appointed the State Security Adviser to Kogi State Government on 1 January, 2016, the position he held till date.

It is not surprising: He is one of the most coordinated and reliable appointees of the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, haven’t proven to be a man of integrity, winning relationships for the government and delivering reliable results to his master, Governor Yahaya Bello which is evident.