The authorities of the Nigerian Army have put a retired Major General
under close watch over the allegations of nepotism against the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
under close watch over the allegations of nepotism against the Chief of Army
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.
Also being closely watched are a few of the accomplices of the general,
who are strongly suspected to have aided him in whipping up ethnic sentiments
in the army.
who are strongly suspected to have aided him in whipping up ethnic sentiments
in the army.
The general was said to have served in the army for the mandatory 35
years but was retired compulsory during the last retirement exercise involving
some 51 top officers of the army.
years but was retired compulsory during the last retirement exercise involving
some 51 top officers of the army.
Investigations showed that his retirement came unexpectedly to him as
the Chief of Army Staff had initially agreed to retire the generals on their
birthdays.
the Chief of Army Staff had initially agreed to retire the generals on their
birthdays.
Defence sources did not give the reasons for the change of mind on the
part of the COAS for the retirement of the affected generals, some of who were
said to have made separate cases for service extension to afford them the
opportunity to build their personal houses.
part of the COAS for the retirement of the affected generals, some of who were
said to have made separate cases for service extension to afford them the
opportunity to build their personal houses.
It was learnt that the army was giving a serious attention to the issue
of the ethnic dimension in the military because of its implications. It is
considered inimical to national unity.
of the ethnic dimension in the military because of its implications. It is
considered inimical to national unity.
It was, however, not clear whether the army would move to apprehend
those suspected to be behind the allegations that have caused grave concerns in
the military in recent time.
those suspected to be behind the allegations that have caused grave concerns in
the military in recent time.
Since a group of military personnel under the aegis of Group for the
Salvation of the Nigerian Army cried out over alleged ethnicity and favouritism
in promotions and postings in the army under Ihejirika, the army has been
silent on the allegations.
Salvation of the Nigerian Army cried out over alleged ethnicity and favouritism
in promotions and postings in the army under Ihejirika, the army has been
silent on the allegations.
Although an official response has not been given on the issues contained
in the petition which was reportedly forwarded to the National Assembly, army
officials are insisting that a combination of officers, who were retired and
others who were not promoted were behind what they described as a campaign of
calumny against the army chief.
in the petition which was reportedly forwarded to the National Assembly, army
officials are insisting that a combination of officers, who were retired and
others who were not promoted were behind what they described as a campaign of
calumny against the army chief.
The group had claimed among others that the promotion exercise had
created disenchantment within the army because it was skewed in favour of a
particular section of the country.
created disenchantment within the army because it was skewed in favour of a
particular section of the country.
The anonymous authors of the document appealed to President Goodluck
Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, Bello Dasuki, and the National
Assembly to intervene in the purported division rocking the army to prevent
unpalatable consequences.
Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, Bello Dasuki, and the National
Assembly to intervene in the purported division rocking the army to prevent
unpalatable consequences.
The Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna was mentioned as one area where no
person from the South had been appointed as commandant for years.
person from the South had been appointed as commandant for years.
It was alleged that even positions like the Adjutant and Registrar of
the institution were exclusively reserved for a particular part of the country.
the institution were exclusively reserved for a particular part of the country.
Ihejirika was said to have attracted the ire of some powerful
individuals when he broke the jinx and appointed Emeka Onwuemegbu, a former
Defence Spokesman, as the commandant.
individuals when he broke the jinx and appointed Emeka Onwuemegbu, a former
Defence Spokesman, as the commandant.
Investigations further showed that the decision to challenge the
entrenched imbalance was responsible for the anger among some military
personnel.
entrenched imbalance was responsible for the anger among some military
personnel.
It was learnt that only officers from a section of the country were
being posted to the Brigades at Obinze and Port Harcourt.
being posted to the Brigades at Obinze and Port Harcourt.
The situation was the same at the Warri Battalion until Ihejirika
ensured that changes were made in the postings to those places.
ensured that changes were made in the postings to those places.
“What other investigation are you talking about? The army knows who is
behind this deliberate move to discredit the service. We know the man behind
it. He is gone and no matter what he does, he cannot come back. It is the
President and Commander-in-Chief that has the power to recall anybody.
behind this deliberate move to discredit the service. We know the man behind
it. He is gone and no matter what he does, he cannot come back. It is the
President and Commander-in-Chief that has the power to recall anybody.
“It is that particular general and a few of his boys that are behind
this attempt to destroy the army by whipping up ethnic sentiments. He has got
to his retirement period; you don’t behave as if you are more important than
others.
this attempt to destroy the army by whipping up ethnic sentiments. He has got
to his retirement period; you don’t behave as if you are more important than
others.
“And because the issue is sensitive; you know it involves ethnic
sentiments, the army is taking it very seriously because ethnic sentiments are
being raised against the leadership.
sentiments, the army is taking it very seriously because ethnic sentiments are
being raised against the leadership.
“The man is really balancing things. Haba, this army is called the
Nigerian Army; it belongs to all of us. He is making efforts to balance years
of sustained partiality in the postings and people are angry.
Nigerian Army; it belongs to all of us. He is making efforts to balance years
of sustained partiality in the postings and people are angry.
“They are angry because the Chief is up against a partial practice that
has lasted several years. Take a look at postings to the military formations in
the South-South and South like the Port Harcourt Brigade, the Obinze Brigade
and the Warri Battalion, no southerner has been posted there since the 1990s
because they say they are from there.
has lasted several years. Take a look at postings to the military formations in
the South-South and South like the Port Harcourt Brigade, the Obinze Brigade
and the Warri Battalion, no southerner has been posted there since the 1990s
because they say they are from there.
“Since the 1990s, this is the first time this monopoly in postings has
been broken,” the source said.
been broken,” the source said.
Since reports of the allegations broke out, the army has not come up
with a comprehensive defence on the issue. The Army Directorate of Information
has kept mum over the allegations.
with a comprehensive defence on the issue. The Army Directorate of Information
has kept mum over the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff is scheduled to meet with the media
on Monday, where is expected to clear the air on the raging allegations rocking
the service.
on Monday, where is expected to clear the air on the raging allegations rocking
the service.
When our correspondent contacted the Director of Army Public Relations,
Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the calls placed to his mobile telephone indicated
that it was either switched off or in an area outside of network coverage.
Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the calls placed to his mobile telephone indicated
that it was either switched off or in an area outside of network coverage.
Source: Punch
