Ethnic Domination: Faceless military group WARN of “DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY “
Some Nigerian top military officers at a function
A DANGEROUS TREND IN THE NIGERIAN ARMY
There is a new dangerous trend in promotions and recruitment in
the Nigerian Army, which should be firmly and promptly checked before
it destroys the military and the country. This trend is clearly visible
in the manner in which the current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant
General Azubuike Ihejirika is handling these two important aspects of
running an effective army institution, which is very critical to the
survival of any state. It appears that the Chief of Army Staff is on a
specific mission, most probably, sponsored by some sinister dark forces
bent on destroying the army and setting the country on the path of
serious conflagration. From all indication General Ihejirika is
deliberately and recklessly pursuing a plan to destroy the career of
senior non Igbo officers while at the same time embarking on a massive
recruitment of soldiers of Igbo stock in order to eclipse all other
ethnic groups in the Nigerian Army. This is raising serious concern
within the army.
Let us, first, examine the promotion exercises carried out in all
the formations since the elevation of Lieutenant General Azubuike
Ihejirika to the office of Chief of Army Staff. We begin with the
Ordinance Corps.
THE ORDINANCE CORPS
In 2010, the Ordinance Corps presented the following brigadiers for consideration for promotion to the rank of Major General:
1. Brigadier Kachallah of NDA Course 22
2. Brigadier Oginni of NDA Course 23
3. Brigadier Martins of NDA Course 24
4. Brigadier Ugwu of NDA Course 25
It is instructive to note that of these four officers it was only
Brigadier Ugwu, the most junior who was promoted. As is well known
Brigadier Ugwu was of NDA Course 25 but was eventually relegated to
course 26. This promotion was cynically effected in order to elevate
Brigadier Ugwu above the others who by this act, automatically lost
their seniority. Thus Brigadier Ugwu is today, Ordinance Corps
Commander ahead of all his seniors.
THE ARMOURED CORPS
The situation was no different in the Armoured Corps. In 2010 the following officers were promoted.
1 Brigadier Oshonowo of NDA Course 24
2. Brigadier Nwaogbo of NDA Course 25
3. Brigadier Awala of NDA Course 25
In appointing the Corps Commander, Lieutenant General Ihejirika
sacrificed the vaunted military tradition of respect for seniority and
competence. He by-passed Brigadier Oshinowo, who was the most senior
and the overall best in NDA Course 24. Instead, General Ihejirika
appointed Brigadier Nwaogbo Corps Commander. Obviously this happened
because Nwaogbo is Igbo. Let us examine the Supply and Transport Corps.
SUPPLY AND TRANSPORT CORPS
A similar situation presented itself in the Supply and Transport
Corps which recommended the following Brigadiers for promotion in 2011:
1. Brigadier Baidon of NDA Course 25
2. Brigadier Magaji of NDA Course 26
3. Brigadier Nienger of NDA Course 26
4. Brigadier Agha Okoro of NDA Course 28
It is astonishing that of these officers, only their junior Agha
Okoro of NDA Course 28 was promoted. Clearly, this was done in order to
give Brigadier Okoro undue advantage to take over from Major General
Gana as Corps Commander.
CORPS OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
This dangerous trend was also noticeable in the Corps of
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In 2011 the following Brigadiers
were presented for promotion.
1. Ariende ( of Edo State)
2. Labaran
3. Amao
4. Adekanye
5. Chioba.
Since Labaran was already in the Defence Industry Corporation of
Nigeria (DICON), where a Major General vacancy existed, he was lucky but
Chioba was also promoted. Chioba’s promotion was to pave the way for
him to emerge as Corps Commander of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE COURSE 18
Let us also consider the case of officers of the National Defence College Course 18
Of all the officers of NDA Course 33 who attended the National
Defence College Course 18, only one officer was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier General. His name is Duru. The Igbo boy. This officer’s grade
on the course was a High C. Many other officers on the course came out
with C+ grades but were not promoted last year.
Col Oyekan who was outstanding in the course and even had an award
was not promoted. Similarly Col Shodunke who also got an award, was not
promoted. He only got promoted this year having lost seniority by one
year. The scheme was to deliberately slow down Col Shodunke to give Duru
seniority. What is even more diabolical about this terrible scheme is
that the award-winning Col Oyekan is still languishing for a second
year without promotion. The treatments meted out to these two officers
become even more disturbing given the fact that both Shodunke and Oyekan
were Directing Staff (DR), at the Armed Forces Command and Staff
College, Jaji, an appointment reserved for only the most outstanding
officers. The question that arises from all this, is, what should an
officer do in the Nigerian Army led by General Ihejitika to get
recognition? Mediocrity?
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AS A CURSE
It appears that it is a curse for an officer to perform
outstandingly and professionally in the Nigerian Army headed General
Ihejirika. This can be exemplified by the case of Colonel Soleye, one
of the finest officers of his generation.
Two officers from the same state , Ogun, attended the National
Defence College, Course 18. Both of them hail from Abeokuta. They
were Colonels Soleye and Fadunsi. The former came out of that course
with C+ grade. He had a High C in his Senior Division Staff Course and
C+ in his Junior Division Staff Courses. The other officer, Fadunsi had a
High C grade in the NDC Course and a C grade in both his Senior and
Junior Staff Courses. Yet this officer was promoted ahead of Soloye who
has a National Honour for Gallantry in Liberia as a platoon commander.
Col Soloye also had various awards from the then Chief of Army Staff.
But he is now languishing for a second year without promotion.? Reason?
His outstanding personal and professional records. The plan here, just
as in the case of Oyekan, is to slow down this rising star who might get
in the way of Igbo officers “destined” by General Ihejirika to rise
above him. By the way, Soleye’s type of gallantry in Liberia was not the
cash and carry type. He almost lost both of his legs in trying to save
his soldiers’ lives. Investigation has also revealed that he has so far
no disciplinary case against him. Lieutenant General Ihejirika is still
not done. He pursued his fiendish scheme with NDC Course 19.
NDC COURSES 19 and 20:EXCELLENCE AS DAMNATION
Let us again examine the case of NDC Course 19. Two officers
excelled in that course: Col Unuigbe and Adefarati. Col Unuigbe not only
came third, but also had an award for his performance. He was also
given a commendation by the Chief of Army Staff and recommended to
return as Directing Staff. He is still a Colonel!! Colonel Adefarati was
also outstanding. Although he came 5th in that course, he was also
denied promotion.
This deliberate destruction of the careers of diligent officers has continued with NDC course 20.
Col Olu who came 1st in the course, was for some strange reason
not promoted. Of all the officers on the course who were due for
promotion, only two were promoted. These are Colonels Egbudon and
Okonkwo who coincidentally happen to be Igbo.
The most shocking was the case of Colonel John Enenche who is
Idoma. Enenche had two Chief of Army Staff commendations, one National
Honour and very strong C+ in the course. Yet he was denied promotion in
order to, just like in the case of Col Soleye, to slow him down for
General Ihejirika’s kinsmen to catch up,with them in the Corps of
Engineers.
CRUDE MANOEUVRES
Let us go back to the Corps of Supply and Transport where two
Brigadiers were retired, thus creating two vacancies for promotion. The
two officers retired were Magaji and Baidom. The Corps had only one
officer to present for promotion to Brigadier. This officer is Colonel
Jidda who is a former Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College,
Jaji. Col Jidda also graduated from the National Institute of Policy
and Strategic Studies Kuru with a B Grade. Colonel Jidda was not
promoted in the last promotion exercise. The point here is that there
were vacancies for two but only one was available. A good officer at
that, but he was denied promotion. The only reason for this is that the
other officer , Col Anene, an Igbo, who could have been presented
alongside Jidda for promotion could not be presented because he was in
NIPPS, Kuru on a course. If Jidda had been promoted, he would have
automatically gained seniority over this Igbo officer. The idea is for
Jidda to wait for the Igbo boy to graduate from NIPPS so they can be
presented next year with other officers from NDC course 21. Most likely,
some Igbo officers would then edge out Jidda who will then suffer the
faith of Col Oyekan and Col Soleye.
Similarly in the Finance Corps, a Brigadier General was retired
thereby creating vacancy for promotion. So far only one officer has been
presented for promotion for two consecutive years without success. This
officer is Colonel Rufus Adejoro who graduated from NDC with a C+. It
is obvious that Col Adejoro who is on his last lap is being
deliberately kept for age to catch up with him, so that when next he is
presented along with a suitable “Kith and Kin” he will be edged out.
Furthermore, there is the case of Brig. Gen M. L. Raji of the
Artillery Corps. This officer was wrongfully accused of releasing a
Boko Haram terrorist from detention. Although Raji was court martialled
he was cleared of all charges and acquitted. As is well-known, this
officer’s record has always been outstanding. He was clearly heading to
the top but had to be slowed down for others. Having been cleared of all
charges, he was presented for promotion in 2011 but was denied . The
idea was to stigmatize him. He was again denied promotion in 2012. This
means he is now in a precarious situation.
PROMOTING MEDIOCRITY AND NEPOTISM
In some instances it appears that Gen Ihejiriaka is not only
interested in advancing the interests of his kith and kin but is also
hell bent on promoting mediocrity in the army. We can illustrate this
by taking the case of NDA Course 29. This course has many outstanding
officers but pre-eminent amongst these is Brigadier General Oyebade.
Brigadier Oyebade not only had a B grade in his Senior Staff
Course in Pakistan, he achieved an A Grade in National Defence
University in Pakistan. Brigadier Oyebade was a Directing Staff (DS),
in both the Staff College, Jaji and Defence College, Abuja. However the
officer was denied promotion in the just concluded exercise.
Still on NDA course 29. Brig. Odunukwe of the Corps of Signals had
to be promoted at all costs during the last promotion, otherwise age
would have caught up with him on the rank. He just had to be promoted.
This explains why he was promoted alongside two other signal officers.
Out of the three promoted, two are Igbos, the other being Brig Orji.
Again for Orji, he was in a tight spot. This was his last chance, but
because Ihejirika did not want his calculations to appear obvious, he
inserted a Yoruba officer, Ologundudu, to smoke up people’s vision.
It should be mentioned that many Igbo officers who have an age
problem were not presented with letters of retirement unlike others who
have since been eased out without a chance to progress. A case in mind
is that of Brig Gen U.M Danko from Bauchi who was never presented for
any promotion board since he was promoted in 2008. Nefariously, the
officer was blocked from being presented three times so that age will
catch up with him.
In course 30 of NDA, four (4) officers were presented but none was
promoted. These officers include Brigadier P.A.T Akem, S. Abubakar,
Ebenebe and Okoh. The reason is that if any were to be promoted, it
would have to be an Igbo officer. It would difficult to drop Akem, a
Tiv officer or, Abubakar an Igbirra officer, both with very good
records. General Ihejirika therefore preferred to sacrifice Ebenebe and
Okoh, who in any case did not have age on their side, for officers from
junior course (SS 26). The idea again being that for every promotion he
must insert an Igbo. For example, he picked Duru from course 33,
leaving behind Akem whose records are outstanding or Abubakar who did
very well in NDC.
SINISTER MOVES
Gen Ihejirika’s entrenchment of mediocrity and nepotism in the
Nigerian army becomes clearer when we consider the promotion and
postings of Brigadier Onoeveta. This officer was the ADC to the late
President Umary Yar’adua, who was central to the scheme to deploy
soldiers at the airport when the late Yar’adua was flown into the
country from Saudi Arabia. He did so by disobeying the Chief of Defence
Staff, National Security Adviser and the acting President. He prevented
Acting President Goodluck from functioning until the death of President
Yar’adua. Curiously after the death of President Yar ‘adua, Brigadier
Onoeveta’s colleagues were summarily retired or denied promotion. For
example, Brigadier Mustapha, the Commander Guards Brigade is still a
Brigadier years after the death of President Yar’adua. However, not
only was Brigadier Onoeveta a crafty never – do – well Officer promoted,
he has also been elevated above all his seniors who are known in the
army to be far more solid and diligent officers than him. Mention should
also be made here of Brigadier S.D Bala, Dadan Garba, D.E. L Yakubu,
Oyekan, Akem and S. Abubakar, Soleye, Adefarati, Olatunde and Jidda,
Marmoni, A.M Aliyu etc all officers who have made their mark in the army
as we mentioned above. The question that arises is, what explains the
retention and the preferential treatment being given to Brigadier
Oneveta, who is notorious for mediocrity. One plausible explanation
for this elevation of mediocrity is that it is a calculated attempt to
achieve certain sinister or diabolical objective perhaps known only to
General Ihejirika and the dark forces behind his actions.
DISREGARD FOR ARMY COUNCIL DECISIONS
The pursuit of General Ihejirika’s evil agenda also manifest
themselves clearly in his disregard for decisions of the Army Council.
As the table below shows the Army Council approved the retirement of
11Major Generals but General Ihejirika retired 12. Similarly, 26
Brigadiers were retired instead 25 approved by the Council while 13
Colonels were retired instead of the 12 approved.
LibertyReport
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