I write as a concerned Nigerian citizen that has been appalled by the recent unsolicited reminder by some groups and individuals to the military not to think of overthrowing the present democratic government. It is surprising that fellow Nigerians and especially a supposedly exposed retired military officer can still indulge in the hallucination of a possible military government in Nigeria. The recent interview granted to spectator newspaper by a retired chief of naval staff, Admiral Akin Aduwo is a reminder that old habits don’t die fast. In that interview, Aduwo was quoted among other things as saying “the military should stay away, as it should know it is not in their culture to intervene”. In the source edition of 18 January, 2010, he was also being quoted as “being ignorant of what the 7 point agenda means”. Is he now so jobless?
Let me reiterate that it is unprofessional and degrading for any military officer serving or retired politicians and or civil rights organizations to take it upon themselves to remind the military that it cannot, under any disguise, overthrow a constitutional government. That is already a settled matter among civilized armed forces. The Nigerian armed forces are one of them. Therefore, these pronouncements are not only mischievous but self serving. It is also a subtle call in my view, on the armed forces to engage in anti-democratic activities that would be inimical to the collective interest of our nation and the evolution of our democratic values. These veiled calls are unpatriotic and portend a great danger to our nascent democracy and it should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians. Let those “do-gooders” understand that Nigeria is not such a nation that the military is constitutionally empowered as an arbiter during periods of political crises.
The military in all civilized nations is not an option to other democratic institutions. Moreover, since the inception of democratic government in 1999, Nigeria has spent a lot of resources in re-orienting the Armed Forces. There is no doubt that, the transformation of the Armed Forces is paying off with its appreciation of the virtue of military subordination to constitutional authorities. It is therefore, my opinion, that to remind them at this stage of our democratic experience, of their constitutional duties is to say the least, inciting. Those who indulge in this past times would be regarded as saboteurs and enemies of the nation and could be charged with treasonable felony.
Let the like of Admiral Aduwo understand that heroic men and women in our armed forces have since 1999 come to terms with their roles as enshrined in the constitution. They demand no additional role and would not be cajoled into committing group suicide. It is therefore expedient that all citizens and organizations are admonished to be mindful of their comments at this critical period in our democratic evolution. Additionally, retired military officers especially those who have benefited from the spoils of Nigeria’s socio-political evolution, like Admiral Aduwo, are advised to concentrate more on their various vocations in retirement and eschew the temptation to play to the gallery. They are to be reminded that this nation expects them to respect at all times their avowed oath of allegiance to the constitution and the president, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.