The leading CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has lambasted the Borno State GOVERNOR Mr. BabaGana Umara Zulum for engaging in unholy communions with terrorists of the boko haram genre who have blood in their hands and have caused the deaths of over 30,000 Nigerian citizens most of whom are Borno State indigenes.
HURIWA recalled that the Borno State Government had flagged off a public campaign programme designed to reconcile and reintegrate repentant Boko-Haram elements. The programme, funded by European Union, EU, is being executed in collaboration with UNICEF, UNDP, and IOM.
HURIWA citing media reports stated that at the flag-off ceremony at the Shehu of Borno Palace on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Babakura Abba-Jato, said there is the need to accept the repentant insurgents, particularly women and children who are also victims that were forced to stay with the insurgents.
Mr Abba-Jato said investigation showed that majority of the 6,000 that surrendered were women and children and some men in communities occupied by the insurgency who were forced to stay and farm for the insurgents.
HURIWA quoted the Bornob State government official as saying thus: “We also have those that carry arms that are being profiled by the authorities in line with International laws relating to such development,” just as the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, who spoke on women and children as the worst affected by the insurgency and other conflicts, urged for public support in ensuring that they are reintegrated.
HURIWA however faulted the United Nations, European Union and the Borno State Government for aiding and abetting terrorism by pretending to be organising reconciliation between terrorists and the victims of terrorism especially when these offenders of the law did not go through the standard trial permitted by the Constitution and the Counter terror law.
The group Condemned the bizzare reconciliation and stated that what terrorists need is not reconciliation but adequate prosecutorial actions to pay for their crimes against humanity. The group therefore accused the Borno State Governor of committing treason and aiding and abetting terrorism which will inevitably be challenged in Nigerian court or the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands soon.
Contrary to the tepid explanation offered by the Minister of Justice and Federal Attorney General Alhaji Abubakar Malami(SAN) that government won’t disclose identity of sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria because that will imperil or undermine investigation, the CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY GROUP-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) said he was being economical with the truth because his office had already filed the suit before the competent court of law meaning that investigations are concluded just as the Rights group said the government is heavily PRO-MOSLEM NORTH and is just protecting the interest of the region from which key players of the government came from.
The Rights group said assuming without conceding that the so called investigations aren’t concluded, how can the naming of sponsors of terrorism that has threatened public safety and national security destroy the investigative process? This doesn’t just make sense, HURIWA insisted just as the Rights group similarly carpeted the chief judge of Federal High Court for not allowing accredited journalists to have unfettered access to the records of the indicted persons because once a matter is filed in court it becomes a public document that can be access using official procedure for filing application and request for the information. The Rights group said the current minister of justice is working against the spirit and the orjncipkes of the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT that are found both in the constitution and the legislative piece if law known as the FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 2015. “By the way, naming and shaming suspects already taken to court is both morally and legally permissible “.
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) RECALLED that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, had stated that the administration will not name sponsors of terrorism at the moment so it won’t jeopardise investigations. The AGF stated this while speaking to journalists in New York, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Umar Gwandu, on Wednesday.
Responding to the affirmation of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice regarding the concealment of the identities of the sponsors of boko haram terrorists the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) also told the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice that millions of Nigerians have seen through the government’s unimaginative and poor logic because the same government recently disclosed that 400 sponsors of boko haram terrorists are already dragged to the Federal High Court Abuja division and indeed the Chief judge of the Federal High Court had already assigned both the judge and the date for the commencement of the suit had been communicated to the members of the public.
HURIWA then wonders why the Federal Attorney General is being clever by half by dishing out jaundiced, highly toxic and outrightly despicable tales by moonlight in which he thinks he can deceive even the youngest infant with such an illogical and infantile excuse he has offered for not releasing the NAMES of the sponsors of boko haram terrorists. The truth is that 99 percent of those doing the bureau de change business in Kano where the bulk of the suspects were allegedly caught are Moslem North and so it is clear that most of the decisions of this government including granting Amnesty to boko haram terrorists that have killed over 33, 000 citizens, these decisions are highly irresponsible and are just NORTHERN SETTLEMENT FOR TERRORISTS and nothing more. “It is unreasonable that a government is much more interested in protecting terrorists and their sponsors than the victims and indeed against the collective interests of the Nigerian public. This is absurd and comical”.
HURIWA has therefore told the Federal High Court to publicise the NAMES OF THE SUDPECTED SOONSORS OF BOKO HARAM TERRORISTS BECAUSE THE COURT HAS THE JUDICIAL POWERS OF THE FEDERATION IN LINE WITH Section 6 OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION which states thus: 6(1) The judicial powers of the Federation shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established for the Federation. (2) The judicial powers of a State shall be vested in the courts to which this section relates, being courts established, subject as provided by this Constitution, for a State. (3) The courts to which this section relates, established by this Constitution for the Federation and for the States, specified in subsection (5) (a) to (1) of this section, shall be the only superior courts of record in Nigeria; and save as otherwise prescribed by the National Assembly or by the House of Assembly of a State, each court shall have all the powers of a superior court of record. (4) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be construed as precluding:- (a) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly from establishing courts, other than those to which this section relates, with subordinate jurisdiction to that of a High Court; (b) the National Assembly or any House of Assembly, which does not require it, from abolishing any court which it has power to establish or which it has brought into being.(5) This section relates to:- (a) the Supreme Court of Nigeria; (b) the Court of Appeal; (c) the Federal High Court; (d) the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (e) a High Court of a State(f) the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;(g) a Sharia Court of Appeal of a State; (h) the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; (i) a Customary Court of Appeal of a State;(j) such other courts as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction on matters with respect to which the National Assembly may make laws; and (k) such other court as may be authorised by law to exercise jurisdiction at first instance or on appeal on matters with respect to which a House of Assembly may make laws.(6) The judicial powers vested in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section – (a) shall extend, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of law (b) shall extend, to all matters between persons, or between government or authority and to any persons in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person; (c) shall not except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, extend to any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person or as to whether any law or any judicial decision is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy set out in Chapter II of this Constitution; (d) shall not, as from the date when this section comes into force, extend to any action or proceedings relating to any existing law made on or after 15th January, 1966 for determining any issue or question as to the competence of any authority or person to make any such law.
HURIWA recalled that the Federal High Court Abuja division had fixed September 17th for arraignment of the 400 suspected sponsors of boko haram terrorists for their roles in funding terrorists in the last ten years that has killed over 33, 000 Nigerians. HURIWA recalled that the Presidency had in March announced the arrest of the suspects, mainly Bureau De Change operators for allegedly facilitating the transfer of money to Boko Haram terrorists. Some Nigerians were said to be transferring the funds to the sect from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in conjunction with the BDC operators. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had announced that arrangements had been concluded to arraign the suspects who were arrested and interrogated by the State Security Service (SSS). There have been public concerns over the delay in commencement of the trial with human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), writing to the AGF seeking fiat to the attorneys general of states for the prosecutions. Falana expressed concerns that sponsors of terrorism arrested for taking part in the kidnapping, armed robbery and extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens had not been prosecuted by the attorneys-general of their respective states “It is such official impunity that has accentuated the violent attacks on innocent people by the so-called bandits and unknown gunmen. In many instances, the suspects were arrested and paraded by the police and other law enforcement agencies but released to continue their criminal activities,” he said.
Armed men on Tuesday attacked Hilltop International Premium Hotel at Tunga-Maje in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
They were said to have engaged policemen at the hotel in a gun battle and killed one of the cops.
PUNCH Metro also gathered that three persons, who lodged in the hotel, were injured, while one of them was hit by a stray bullet.
Our correspondent had in June reported that gunmen abducted a former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Friday Makama, and eight others from the same hotel.
A source told our correspondent that the armed men shot at the hotel doors to gain access.
The source said, “They came around 11pm; they were many. We had closed for the day and locked everywhere. They shot at the doors and shot the person they abducted before taking him away “Three people were injured. One of them, a bullet hit him while in his room. Policemen have been coming to our hotel since the last attack; the hoodlums met them and engaged them in a gun battle.
“They didn’t do anything to us, but we were flogged. People that were injured were those who came to lodge.”
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, adding that a policeman was killed during the attack.
“Suspected kidnappers were carrying out their operations and our policemen foiled their attack and engaged them in a gun battle. Unfortunately, one of our men paid the supreme price. One other person was injured,” she added.
When contacted for comments, the manager of the hotel, Maquile Adejoh, pleaded with our correspondent to call him back the following day.
Suspected Fulani herdsmen were said to have kidnapped a pregnant woman and two others in Ogun, demanding a ransom of N30 million.
DAILY POST gathered that the abductees were taken away on Sunday evening along Igbo-Ora-Sokoto road, Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The victims had paid a visit to their friend who resides at Rounder area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
A source informed that the kidnappers laid an ambush for three persons at an area known as Karigo, saying the pregnant woman is in her eighth month.
According to him, the herdsmen had contacted the families of the victims on Tuesday, asking them to pay N10 million each for their release.
It was said that two other persons on the trip escaped when the kidnappers accosted them.
“We got information that at the abattoir in Rounda that kidnappers abducted three persons.
“The kidnappers did not call immediately but they called on Tuesday, asking for N10 million on each victim as ransom. There is a pregnant woman among them, who would soon give birth,” the source said.
“It was gathered that the victims parked their car because the road is bad, but while trekking, they were ambushed by their kidnapers
“The abductees were two women and one man, identified as Baba Sandra.
“One of them is a thrift collector in the market here (Itoku market ); one is a civil servant but we don’t know where the other one works,” it was learnt.
“The husband of the pregnant woman was one of the two that escaped being kidnapped,” the source informed.
Contacted, the Ogun police spokesman, Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirmed the incident.
However, Oyeyemi said the victims had organised a prayer session in the forest where they were captured.
“Since that very day, our people have been on their trail. In fact, while I was discussing with the OC (Officer in-charge), they were still in the bush in that area trying to get all those people.
“But, our people should also be careful, they should stop organising prayers inside the forest,” he said.
The member representing Umunneochi constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Okey Igwe has expressed worries over the resurgence of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery in the area.
The Abia lawmaker lamented that his constituents now live in fear as the current trend has taken a dangerous toll on Umunneochi Local Government Area of the State.
Igwe disclosed that the perpetrators of the nefarious activities in Umunneochi constituency now use Lokpanta cattle market as their den from where they unleash terror on innocent citizens and residents of the area.
He spoke while presenting a matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the Abia State House of Assembly during its plenary session on Wednesday.
The legislator called on the security heads in the area to urgently restore the security checkpoints along the vital points in Umunneochi constituency and to add more men to their patrol teams.
Igwe further urged the Abia Ministry of Homeland Security to liaise with the local vigilante groups in the area to complement other security agencies stationed at the crime prone areas.
In the same vein, the Abia State House of Assembly has directed the Clerk of the House to, as a matter of urgency send a letter of invitation to the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, the permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Homeland Security and the Chain of Lokpanta Cattle Market for an interaction with the House.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji while reeling out some resolutions of the House at its sitting, said the invitation is aimed at finding lasting solutions to the menaces posed by criminal elements in the local area.
Hon Orji implored the security heads in Umunneochi Local Government Area to restore the security check-points at strategic locations in the vicinity in order to curb the activities of criminals in the area.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Abia State House of Assembly has adjourned to Monday, 27th September, 2021 for continuation of plenary.
While we slept, they sneaked in from the from the Futta Djalon highgrounds and whilst we were asleep, they strategized on what to do with Nigeria.
At Degel, they were disguised as Islamic teachers and as we all slept, they planned the coup. They slaughtered and depossed in the name of cleansing their faith while we slept. While we slept, they supplanted the Kings of Hausaland, replacing them with their kinsmen or tribesmen. They called it a jihad and soon took all the power while we all slept. While we yet were asleep, they introduced the Emirate system which is now out greatest undoing in Nigeroa. Had the Hausa Kingdoms not slumbered there is no way they could have lost out so easily.
When the Oyinbo came knocking, they were at the door to receive him while we slept. The Oyinbo quickly adopted his administration on the Emirate system and called it Indirect Rule while we all slept. For acceptability, they came up with the name HausaFulani given that they knew they had no claim to any land here and they achieved some level of acceptability while we slept.
They carefully set out positioning theirs into the civil.service of the then Northern Region and the Federation whilst we were asleep. They secretly monitored the careers of their own sons and few daughters and ensured that no promotion was missed as we slept on.
They dominated the Customs, Police, Immigration, Correctional Service while we were asleep. At first, they were never interested in the Military due to its inherent danger but when the era of coup making came around, they rushed theirs and carefully guided them to becoming Military Governors and or Administrators, this they did while we slept. They used others to execute the last Civil War but they were the first in sharing the spoils whilst we were all sleeping.
Theirs got the best postings or occupied the best positions in the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police whilst the rest of us slept. Most of the State Police Commissioners are from their stable and so they are able to twist policing any which way they want while we all slept.
Technically, they have taken over the whole country while we all slept. They have foisted their own tribesman as president by blindfolding the Southwest into an alliance as the rest of us slept. The tribesman president took all the time he needed to put together a Cabinet in which almost every member from the North is from their stable while we all slept. While we all slept, they ensured that they skillfully ensured that the top 20 positions in what is called NNPC which some are sacarsticslly calling Northern Nigeria Petroleum Corporation are all from their stable even when that region does not produce even a litre of oil.
Look around and you will find out that all the petrol stations belong to them. The dubious Ruga and Grazing Reserve Bills were rushed through to ensure that their imported tribesmen were everywhere in the territory of Nigeria while we slept.
The imported tribesmen had AK 47s well concealed with which they were to effect the complete takeover of the country much in the style of the Taliban in Afghanistan while we slept. Once in a while they did appoint one or two none members from outside their stable to some important appointments but such served only as their puppets whilst they were the puppeteers even as we slept on.
They have elevated their cows well above human beings whilst we were all asleep just because their’s is president Today, they are frantically looking for a history to support their dubious claim to the territory called Nigeria.
It is this claim that is the reason WE as bonafide ethnic nationalities of this country have to wake up from the slumber to fight for our ancestral lands. If we continue to sleep, it will be too late.
We are just waking up to find out that we are all surrounded by AK 47 wielding tribesmen. We are just waking up to discovering that our country is almost completely taken over. We are just waking up to the reality that the national security architecture is commanded by their’s. We have just woken up to discovering that death is common place everywhere in the land. The imported jihadists have introduced a new dimensions to death in Nigeria, aside death by gunshots against defenceless civilians, the old, infirmed, women and children are viciously hacked to death in cold blood mostly while they slept.
Others are being burnt alive in their homes, any trying to escape are cut down with machetes. The terrorist jihadists derive special pleasure in slaughtering their innocent victims much in the style of Sallah rams.
To demonstrate their level of viciousness, they go as low as cutting down crops growing up on farms without realizing that the crops will be feeding both friend as well as the enemy in due time. It has been convenient during the reign of the tribesman to mop up locally fabricated hunting dane guns, bows and arrows, cutlasses used by peasant farmers whilst the imported tribesmen were left to flaunting their AK47s with the utmost of impunity.
We are just waking up to discovering that the strategy of disarming the local population is to ensure they cannot mount any resistance to the imported jihadists. We have also woken up to the fact that almost all the Commanders and other sensitive appointments in the ranks and file of the national security architecture are held by one of theirs.
As Nigeria burns, the Oga whose primary responsibility is to ensure our safety pretends not to SEE or HEAR anything and so does nothing to stop the slaughter. The Oga who is dumb and deaft wants the tribesmen to pursue their cattle rearing business at the expense of other people’s businesses and on other people’s ancestral lands.
How can that be now that we have woken up from sleep? Now that we have woken up from the long and deep sleep every part of this stranded contraption except one is earnestly asking for RESTRUCTURING but they are running rings round the issue. They must know that the game is up and that we have cracked their code and things will never be the same ever again.
Now that we have woken up from the deep slumber as ethnic nationalities, it is for us to cleave one to the other so that no foreign Intruders and usurpers of power can Lord it over us ever again. The Hausa community whose kingdoms were surreptitiously stolen under the guise of cleaning up Islam must now stand up strong and firm to recover the loot from the thieves.
If anything at all the Hausa people as bonafide ethnic Nigerians must now denounce the fraud in the name HausaFulani because it was designy to accommodate the foreign intruder’s interest. Whilst a peaceful arrangement can be agreed via the mechanism of RESTRUCTURING, where this is rejected, then all other means possible must be pursued.
As ethnic nationalities in this beleaguered country, we have paid much more than an acceptable price in lives, pain and humiliation at the hands of the foreign occupiers. It is because we failed to cleave one to the other that the foreign occupiers have all along been exploiting the divisions between us.
We can stand on the mountain top and shout it to the hearing of the entire world that the land on which our people are presently settled is our God given heritage. We did not come from elsewhere as History has recorded of the foreign occupiers.
There’s no doubt that democracy is facing its toughest survival battles in Africa and the empirical facts and the unassailable body of evidence are there for all discerning and rational minds to see amidst the faltering democratisation efforts in Chad, Mali, Guinea Conakry with the resurgence of militarism and militarization. In the face of these tumultuous challenges are some hidden lessons that can be learnt from some of the actions of the President of Nigeria who has experienced the best of the two Worlds as a military ruler and now in his final term as an elected democrat. Many will doubt if President Muhammadu Buhari can be credited to be a democrat because clearly, some of his administrative approaches have questioned his abiding faith and loyalty to constitutional democracy. For instance, the government in Nigeria has bad records in the area of respect for plurality of opinions and freedoms as are clearly enshrined in many legislative and constitutional provisions and the government has had running battles attempting to moderate and muzzle the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. But even with these issues highlighted, there is one area in which the Nigerian president has established himself as someone who has atleast one positivity and an enduring lesson to teach the rest of Africa in the democratisation theory and practice and if he keeps to the constitutional term limits and retire quietly to his Daura hometown in the year 2023, he would surely have cemented this as a legacy to be talked about for many centuries to come. This lesson is not seen easily by most observers because of the monumental challenges thrown on Nigerians by the economic implications of some policies of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration but if an observer looks deeper and think philosophically, the nexus is there for all to see and this is what this article is out to demonstrate and what will resonate in this reflection isn’t so much about praising anyone but putting things in their proper perspectives. You can as well take it to the bank that this writer has no reason in this World to act the praise-singer card because obviously I’m a consummate human rights activist who has maintained consistent records of speaking truth to power. The difference is that I and my team do also make efforts to highlight some positivism and landmarks attained by any government even if that government has a lot of questions to answer in some key areas of governance. And so the straight fact in this piece is the lesson the rest of Africa can imbibe by the way the immediate past military Chiefs and especially the immediate past Chief of army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the others served the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for almost six years and withstood a lot of temptation to torpedo the civilian administration so as to establish militarism and military regime. Indeed the immediate past Service Chiefs believed in constitutional democracy and by their actions in office, demonstrated their unflinching loyalty to the Nigerian constitution which says that military institutions are to remain subordinate to civilian authorities. And at the end of their service as military Chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari gave them further appointments as his representatives and Ambassadors to key diplomatic offices in West Africa. The former Army Chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai is the Ambassador of Nigeria in Benin Republic and from the few things we have seen, this military professional has started very well. So they are good examples to the rest of the military Generals in Africa on why they must resist Worldly temptations to overthrow properly constituted democratic institutions in their nations and remain subordinate to civilian authority and on the parts of the civilian heads of states, they must stick to the principles of accountability and transparency and respect their constitutional term limitations and must never do things to establish themselves as life Presidents.
This is because there is no greater sacrifice one can render to his nation than defending its unity, togetherness and territorial integrity against external aggressions. For instance, in the United States of America where Nigeria borrows its leg of democracy, at least 29 former American Presidents who served their country in the Armed Forces are usually prouder than others.
The likes of George Ford, the famous Jimmy Carter; Richard Nixon; George H. W Bush, Ronald Reagan and hordes of others are proud to render their services to nationhood. On the contrary, in Nigeria today, the greatest gist among the country’s senior political forerunners, former leaders, and political elites is the sustained mockery of Nigeria’s immediate past Service Chiefs.
Though, the Ex-Military Chiefs posted very relieving results between 2015 and early 2021, fighting the conspiratorial or instigated insurgencies and insurrections hovering in some parts of Nigeria, but to some partisan senses, none of them deserve such prestigious national honour of Ambassadors of democracy.
That Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic; Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, who led the counter-insurgency operations as COAS, and his colleagues in Nigeria’s Military hierarchy of Service Chiefs are intentionally uncelebrated by some Nigerians is because the hate is deep and malevolent!
No one is forcing the few discontented Nigerians to notice the difference Nigeria’s counter-insurgency operations and respect to constituted civil authorities under the commanding height of the immediate past Service Chiefs unlike what is happening to democracies in West Africa.
Particularly, when President Buhari appointed Gen. Buratai (rtd) as Nigeria’s 26th COAS, he pledged his total dedication to duty and loyalty to the Commander-In- Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces; President Buhari. Quite honestly, credit must be given to Buratai because he showed that Nigeria comes first before self-interest and must be defended at all times by every Nigerian.
Observably, his commitment to Nigeria will remain the beam of a united Nigeria, despite the conspiratorial gang-ups and upsurge of terrorist’s attacks, criminal activities, militancy and agitations. But it only conveys one message; and it is that Gen. Buratai was firmly convinced about the necessity of the defense of his dear nation; a silently saying that a regenerated Nigeria for today and tomorrow is possible.
This could explain why after his retirement, he was elevated to the strategic position of an Ambassador of Democracy to the Republic of Benin. Buratai’s appointment and that of the other ex-service chiefs couldn’t have been timelier and more strategic as it shows that it is not always the best for the military to distablize internal democracy compared to what has happened in some countries in West Africa.
Undoubtedly, Gen. Buratai (rtd) as COAS was a skillful defender of Nigeria’s democracy in the country’s most turbulent times, who tirelessly worked and supported democratic governance in Nigeria.
Even when some mischievous political elements wanted to take advantage of President Buhari’s several medical absences then to truncate democracy, by making overtures to some officers and soldiers for political reasons, Gen. Buratai (rtd) vehemently stood against it.
He warned them to be cautious of the consequences of their actions, telling the intending coup plotters not to make any attempt at truncating the nation’s democracy. The former Army Chief was emphatic, warning Army officers to steer clear of politics. He reportedly asked those interested in politics to resign from the Nigerian Army and pursue their new found ambitions.
Perharps it would be pertinent to mention that when in July, 2017, he granted interview to BBC’s Stephen Sackur, Gen. Buratai clearly stated; “there is no leadership vacuum,” explaining it as a pre-emptive caution, based on past experiences.
“There is no vacuum, it’s just a sort of pre-emptive warning in terms of what transpired before this administration came on board. Based on our own knowledge, based on our experiences, it is good once in a while to tell Officers that there are bounds that we must remain within the constitutional boundaries.
“There are constitutional provisions; there is never a vacuum. We have an Acting President there. I think whatever is happening, we should allow Mr. President to recuperate, get stronger and go back home.”
Repeatedly, Gen. Buratai (rtd.) never failed to drum it into the ears of soldiers and men of the Nigerian Army. At the opening ceremony of a seminar for Commandants, Bursars and Administrative officers of the Nigerian Army on August 1, 2019, in Abuja, he re-emphasised his preachments on politics as the non-negotiable loyalty of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to Mr. President and the country. He urged officers to remain apolitical, take right actions and show commitment to constitutionally defined obligations.
“We need to remain absolutely loyal to Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a non-negotiable part of our profession.”
Also, at the commissioning ceremony of the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Centre, Transit Accommodation and the newly built Accident and Emergency Ward of the Nigerian Army Medical Hospital at the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Gibson Jalo Cantonment in Yola, Adamawa State on December 28th, 2019, Gen. Buratai also resounded to soldiers to be grateful to their nation, keep faith and loyalty to the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Buhari.
His persuasive words read thus; “I want you to keep faith, be focused and loyal to the Federal Government and be grateful of the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, for his support to the Nigerian Army. Therefore, I wish to pledge the commitment and unalloyed loyalty of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to the President and the defence of our democracy.”
More so, speaking in Asaba, Delta State during the inauguration of six projects at the temporary headquarter of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army on July 2nd, 2020 as part of the activities marking the Army day under the theme: ‘Nigeria’s Territorial Defense and Integrity – Imperatives for Nigeria’s Army’ Sustained Training and Operations, Buratai charged Officers and men of the Nigerian Army to abide by their constitutional roles in the task of securing lives and property of Nigerians just as he tasked them on professionalism and responsiveness.
Furthermore, on the 26th of October, 2020, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), during a meeting with Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), Commanding Officers (GOCs) and Field Commanders in Abuja warned that the Army would not allow subversive elements to destabilise Nigeria and its democratic order in addition to rallying troops to defend the country, not minding threats to file complaints at International Criminal Court.
Buratai told the PSOs, GOCs and Field Commanders that there would be no room for disloyalty amongst all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army. He directed that they must reiterate to all their subordinates that the army was determined to ensure democratic stability in Nigeria as the only panacea for development and progress.
“We will not allow any force, elements or destabilising agents in or outside our country to set our beloved country on fire. We remain resolute in doing everything possible to ensure that subversive elements, detractors and other enemies of this great nation do not achieve their aims and objectives of destabilisation”.
Likewise on December 4, 2020, during the decoration of 39 newly promoted major generals, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (as he then was) warned the newly-promoted generals against coup plots.
He said the Nigerian Army would not tolerate any plot to scuttle the current democratic dispensation noting that he was aware that “some generals were being approached and all our eyes are on them.”
He went further to reiterate: “Democracy has come to stay. We will not tolerate any agent of destabilisation. The years of military misadventure in politics have never carried us anywhere. It is over.”
Disclosing that the Army hierarchy was aware of some interests making efforts to interact with certain personnel, the Buratai expressed confidence in the discipline and loyalty of the newly decorated officers.
However, he warned: “Do not hobnob with politicians. At this rank of two-star generals, do not lobby for appointment. If you want to lobby for appointment, lobby the Chief of Army Staff and you can only do this through hard work, discipline and loyalty.
“The crop of officers decorated will never be dragged into any interest that is contrary to the sustenance of democracy in our nation. All our eyes are on you. We know there are several moves to get your attention. You must make sure that whatever you are doing, and when some persons approach you, you must act within the confines of the constitution.”
By and large, hardly in West Africa’s existential political history would a leader of a large Army such as the Nigerian Army display such fondness of loyalty to a sitting President and a passion for the defense of the country’s democracy in times of threats to national unity.
The few can doubt, but one lesson to be learnt from the constitutional purity ideology of Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.) is that his iconic leadership and that of his colleagues in Nigeria’s Military hierarchy of Service Chiefs sensitized and strengthened the military generally as a subordinate institution to civil rule and democratic institutions of the country.
Indeed, with how democracies in some of the West African Countries are looking towards militarism, Buratai has sacredly remained a reference pillar of loyalty, love for the country and dedication to the nation’s peace and security under a democracy. Even as Nigeria’s Ambassador of Democracy in Republic of Benin, Gen. Buratai (rtd.) has continued to demonstrate loyalty and his hunger to disarm the wings of criminals and tormentors of Nigeria for a country totally freed from the strings of insecurities.
In every sense, he was indeed, the finest testimony or portrait of absolute loyalty to Nigeria and the Army’s mirror as subordinates to democratic institutions of a country. His constitutional purity will remain a great lesson for generations.
*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was National Commissioner of the National Human Rights commission of Nigeria. He can be reached on www.huriwanigeria.com.
