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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna was mentioned as one area where no 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.

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.

Investigations further showed that the decision to challenge the 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.

The situation was the same at the Warri Battalion until Ihejirika 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“Since the 1990s, this is the first time this monopoly in postings has 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.

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.

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.
http://www.punchng.com/news/army-puts-retired-general-others-under-watch/

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So long... Plz, who read all, summarize...

This is why most youth are jobless,when those baba in service are not ready to go and when they are forced to go,this is the result

wonda26: So long... Plz, who read all, summarize...

Why exactly did you comment when you didn't read it?

And so wot?

Must they always cry foul when things aren't in their favour?

Some people should just give it up, the current reform in the Nigerian Army should be applauded not criticized. Before now, the Nigerian Army is known as the Northern Army.

I think the army chief is doing the right thing

Military intervention is long overdue in Nigeria.


God,abeg give Nigeria her own Rawling.

ethnicity differences has eaten deep into our bone marrows.......

bro jona do somtin ooo;b/4 ur seat becomes d next target

Am loving this COAS....

It's the Nigerian Army for goodness sake! Not Northern Nigeria Army!

Good move ïhejirika, I will even support u wit my armours, still 1st page tins shaa

Nigerian army and Custom has Hausa as its official Langauge. Aboki, mai Gworo with 7stars.

I love the gut of this man (Ihejirika) now this is what I call 'a mark of bravery' on his part! Thank God also for the wise move of placing some unscrupulous elements within and outside the Army under strict watch To this, I say more power to your elbows President Goodluck Jonathan and Lt. Gen Ihejirika!

if this is still an issue, it better be resolved.. besides was this meant to be a national cake for any ethnic group?

which position am i?

if ethnicity or religion does not tear us apart in this country, what will?

wonda26: So long... Plz, who read all, summarize...

They said army na for igbos now am wow I'm so happy

Good

i rest my comment

Nice move army chief some section of this country thinks the entire country belongs to them,always crying foul when a piece is given to other people that is why they went about town bombing

Thanks God for sending "Moses"!! The times of "Pharoa" are gone and gone for good.
Any general who is not comfortable with the reformation has 3 options;

Retire voluntarily,
Forced to retire,
Dismissed and placed under watch.

Politics is brewing in the army now

I'm really surprise at dis.....I remember d first time dis news broke out evrybody wanted d head of ihejirika....just now again evrybody is singing his praise.... Nigeria is just a funny place...

Bliss4Lyfe][b]It is about time to teach these men that nobody has a monopoly on violence. I an tired of Igbos being the sacrificial lamb in this country. Any nonsense from those old fools, don't hesitate to pick em off all in one go.


Igbos will not support d army chief if he tries nepotism in d army....all wat we needs is equal opportunity

Who‘s that “particular former general“ whose name cannot be mentioned?

If there are imbalances of an ethnic kind in the Army then they should be corrected. However such correction should be open and transparent and the Army leadership should be bold enough to talk openly about it.I still believe such acorrection however is a political not a technical job and should be superintended by Commander in Chief who is the one that has a political mandate to do this. There is no way in a country like Nigeria that you will not have quota/federal character in the military because that is the ultimate guarantee of ethnic interests. Let us not deceive ourselves about that.Rather let us agree openly what is acceptable to us all and stick to it.
What is important is you have a system so that another Northerner etc coming later cannot easily reverse all these changes. That will only happen when there are CLEAR rules.Seeking to make changes without changing the system itself is self deception. Will the current COAS not leave office,then what?

Surveillance??

Hehehe..

Neva knew the cluelessness by our army had reached this levl

king cobra: Bliss4Lyfe][b]It is about time to teach these men that nobody has a monopoly on violence. I an tired of Igbos being the sacrificial lamb in this country. Any nonsense from those old fools, don't hesitate to pick em off all in one go.


Igbos will not support d army chief if he tries nepotism in d army....all wat we needs is equal opportunity

speak for urself and be the sacrifice, dat is, if u are igbo. I am with GEJ and Ihejirika, even if they blow up naija with a nuclear bomb.

Make the watch him closely. Including otherr like him.