by Eze Eluchie
The President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and the
new Minister of Defense should caution the military personnel from making
comments on matters far above their mandate and scope.
The recent Press Releases signed by and comments made by the Chief of Air
Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar and the Acting Director, Army Public
Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, threatening to unleash the military on
persons engaged in peaceful demonstrations over agitations for
self-actualization in the South-East and South-South is uncouth,
unprofessional, quasi-criminal and most unbecoming of trained soldiers whose
pay and upkeep depends on public funds.
Are the comments by the top brass of our military indicative of an
already planned operation to commit heinous crimes against an identified people
in their legitimate quest for self-determination and self-actualization? Are
these comments a furtherance of General Muhammadu Buhari’s avowed position to
treat unequally those areas that gave him ‘5% votes’ during the last
presidential elections?
The issue gets more worrisome when it is realized that those making
these threats against peaceful protesters hail from regions far removed from
the protesters. These comments coming at a time when our military has been
bogged down by intractable terror attacks by Boko Haram in our Northeastern
region leaves much room to be desired.
Dialogue and peaceful arbitration remains the answer. Such threats to
‘crush’ peaceful demonstrations have no place in our current efforts at
democratic governance.
General Muhammadu Buhari, the world is watching with keen
interests....
Pictures: Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar and Col. Sani
Usman, Army Public Relations Director.
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