Following reports of alleged lopsidedness in admission process in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) the House of Representatives yesterday ordered its Committee on Defence to quickly commence an investigation into the process to cover the past 10 years in order to determine the veracity of annual admission trends.
Weekly Trust had last Saturday published a list of successful candidates admitted into the academy from Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno and Taraba where the lists reflected religious and ethnic variations. But the Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, maintained that the process had duly recognised “all the factors that are of national character”.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, Sheikh Zubairu Surajo and the Chairman of the Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna, Shiekh Usman Abubakar Babantine after a meeting frowned at an observed lopsided nature of admission.
After a meeting, the Islamic bodies issued a statement in which they noted that the recent admission is shocking and unbelievable which no responsible community would accept.
“The result clearly shows that Muslims of Nigeria were systematically marginalized, a plan we foresee is intended to gradually get rid of our Muslim youths from the armed forces and other security agencies in Nigeria,” said the joint statement.
It is against this that representative Aliyu Sani Madaki (PDP, Kano) moved a matter of urgent national importance on the floor of the House.
Rep Madaki, who is the chairman, committee on Lake Chad, noted further that as the only degree awarding institution not subject to JAMB admission process, NDA should serve as a symbol of unity in Nigeria. “The imbalance recorded in the last admission/recruitment into the NDA Kaduna, and its implication on our polity has offended the provisions of Section 219(a&b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” said the member.
Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP, Imo) who was presiding over the session at the time however cautioned House that issues like this involving religion and ethnicity are very sensitive and therefore members must take note. He therefore referred the matter to the committee on Defence for further legislative work. It was given two weeks to submit its findings to the House.
Source: Daily Trust
