Vice Admiral Augustus Aikhomu expressed gratitude for the recognition he received and emphasised  the importance of grassroots leadership in governance. He now joins the ranks of other distinguished African figures, including Emperor Haile Selassie and President Kenneth Kaunda, in receiving the prestigious honour.

Published Wednesday, August 2, 1989

Aikhomu gets Keys to Kingston

Wishes ‘more grease to your elbows’

VICE Admiral Augustus Aikhomu, chief of general staff in Nigeria, was yesterday presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston at a special sitting of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Council.

Earlier, he went to National Heroes Park where he laid a wreath at the War Memorial.

At the KSAC, Councillor Marie Atkins, mayor of Kingston, said he was the fifth distinguished African national to be presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston. Other recipients were Ethiopian Emperor, the late Haile Selassie, the president of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda; singer Miriam Makeba of South Africa, and President William Talbert of Liberia.

The mayor said Nigeria was very dear to Jamaicans, as many had lived and worked in that great country.

In his acceptance speech, Vice Admiral Aikhomu said he felt a great sense of gratitude for the honour and added that, although Nigeria no longer retained the concept of mayor, its government strongly believed in leadership at the grassroots level.

He wished for the councillors and the KSAC Council “more grease to your elbows”, a Nigerian expression of goodwill.

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