THERE is time to occupy a position, and there is time to definitely vacate such position. There is nothing that has a beginning that has no end, only God that is everlasting.  Admiral Ola Saad Ibrahim attended Nigerian Military School Zaria, as a boy soldier, in 1970. He was reputed to be a serious and a fine foot-baller. On graduation from the Nigerian Military School, he was posted to the Medical Corp of the Nigerian Army where he later gained admission to the Nigerian Defence Academy with the Naval cadets of Regular 17.

He was later commissioned as a midshipman in the Nigerian Navy. He belonged to the Executive Arm of the Navy and commanded the Nigerian Navy as the Chief of Naval Staff. Admiral Ibrahim therefore did not skip any rank in the Armed Forces. He rose to the rank of a four-star General and, by the will of God, the Chief of Defence Staff of the most populous black nation in the world.

For Admiral Ibrahim, it is definitely a success story. He has really made good use of his military career up till the last day he vacated that exalted position of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He has cause to remain grateful to God till eternity going by his sojourn in life since he started his journey as a young officer in December 1974.The disengagement of Admiral Ibrahim as CDS by President Goodluck Jonathan on 16th January, 2014 the very man that appointed him on 4th October 2012, was received with mixed feelings. A close friend of the Admiral said he had given thanks to Allah for the immediate past CDS for three main reasons; firstly, that he did not bring to shame the religion of Islam; that he did not disgrace Ilorin, his community; and that he did not disappoint the good people of Nigeria within and outside the country and the international community.

The Admiral, a fine officer, is God-fearing and tested. He is not flamboyant, not self-centred and well trusted by all he related with without exception. Admiral Ibrahim is a navigation and direction specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from Ahmadu Bello University and obtained a Masters Degree from the Department of war Studies and Public Policy at the Kings College University of London. Admiral Ibrahim served in various capacities in the navy. He was a Directing Staff and chief instructor at the Department of Maritime warfare, Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji. He was secretary to the chief of the Naval Staff before being appointed to command the Naval Operations Base, Nigeria Naval ship BEECROFT in 2001.

In 2003, Admiral Ibrahim served as Commander, Naval Task Group, Operation Harmony, in the Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, before he went to the National Defence College, Nigeria as a Directing Staff. He left the National Defence College as Director Curriculum and Programmes Development  in May 2006. It was from this appointment that he headed back to the Naval headquarters as Chief of Administration and subsequently Chief of Training and Operations. In February, 2009, he was appointed Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command.

Born on 15th June 1955, the immediate past CDS succeeded Air Vice Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin. His appointment then as CDS was described as a round peg in a round hole. It is on record that Admiral Ibrahim was the second naval chief to rise to the position of Chief of Defence Staff after Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi, the first to be so decorated in Kwara State in that rank.

Coming back to Ilorin, his home country, the good people of the Ilorin Emirate are so overwhelmed with the achievement recorded by their son within this short period in terms of employment of his kins men into the military, empowerment of youths and assisting the less privileged in his own small way. His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, has at every given time, covered Admiral Ibrahim with organised prayers for a successful tenure which has now manifested at the end of his military career. The Admiral's successful tenure was made possible with the backing and assistance of his dear wife, Hajia Aminat Modupe Ibrahim. Hajia Ibrahim really confirmed the fact that behind every successful man, there is always a woman.

There are many reasons for Admiral Ibrahim to give thanks firstly, to the Almighty God, then to the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Jonathan, his colleagues and the entire good people of this great country Nigeria. To the President and C in C, the good people of Kwara state thank you immensely for the opportunity granted our son to serve in the capacity as CDS. As he finally bow out from the military, it is our prayer Admiral Ibrahim, will continue to enjoy the rest of his life in good health and long life.

 Tunde Akanbi writes from Ilorin, Kwara State.