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 that 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 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.
Analysis of Retirement in the Nigerian Army
Rank Retirements Approved by Army Council Retirements Carried Out
Major General
11
12
Brigadier General
25
26
Colonel
12
13
Total
48
51
The unauthorised officers retired were:
Major General O. Akinyemi N/6071 South West
Brigadier General U.M Dank N/7178 North East
Col F.C. Adaka
N/8876 South
South
IHEJIRIKA’S IGBO ARCHITECTURE
General Ihejirika’s Igbo architecture becomes very clear when we look
at the disposition of Brigadiers holding strategic positions in the
Nigerian Army today. Just consider this:
Brig OKORO is the sector commander in UNAMSIL( Liberia).
Brig DURU is the Director of Logistics in NDC, being prepared for a higher position.
Brig CHIOBA is the de facto oga in AHQ Policy and Plans.
Brig EGWUAGU is the Director at AHQ in charge of recruitment, positioning and promotion of all soldiers in the NIgerian Army!
Brig EBENEBE is the Director of operations in AHQ.
Brig OKOH is the Acting Chief of Logistics in AHQ. His three Directors are all Igbos.
Major General BUZUGBE is the Military Secretary in charge of postings, retirements etc.
RECRUITMENT OF SOLDIERS INTO THE NIGERIAN ARMY DEPOT, ZARIA
This attempt to Igbonise the Nigerian Army becomes clearer when we
look at the pattern of recruitment of soldiers into the Nigerian Army
Depot, Zaria, under General Ihejirika. As the table below shows, there
has been a massive recruitment of soldiers from his ethnic group to the
disadvantage of others.
For example, Abia state, the home state of General Ihejirika, with a
population of only 2.8 million has so far had the largest share of
recruits, 450, far above Kano with a population of 9.3 million and Lagos
with a population of just over 9 million and Kaduna with a population
of just over 9 million. These states have so far had 259, 255 and 382
recruits respectively. The case of Ebonyi is also symptomatic of this
glaring lopsidedness in the recruitment figures. Thus although 377 were
recruited from Ebonyi with a population of just 2.2 million, Oyo State
with a population of 5.6 million had only 282; Katsina with a population
of 5.8 million had only 248; Lagos State with a population of just over
9 million had only 255 and only 271 was recruited from Plateau state
with a population of of 3.2 million.
When the same table is analysed on zonal basis, General Ihejirika’s
bias in favour of his zone also becomes patently clear. The South east
geopolitical zone with a population of 16.3 million has so far had the
highest recruits – 1925. The North West, which is the largest
geopolitical zone with a population of 35.8 million, double that of
South East, has only 1949 recruits. Similarly, the South west
geopolitical zone with a population of 27.6 million has only 1561
recruits. Thousands of qualified recruits from these states have had
their applications turned down by a kangaroo selection group set up by
General Ihejirika.
GEOPOLITICAL ZONES STATES POPULATION 66 RRI 67 RRI 68 RRI TOTAL
SOUTH EAST ABIA 2,833,999 155 143 152 450
ANAMBRA 4,182,032 93 105 115 313
EBONYI 2,173,501 126 141 110 377
ENUGU 3,257,928 114 129 110 353
IMO 3,934,899 153 129 152 432
TOTAL 16,382,359 641 647 639 192
SOUTH SOUTH AKWA IBOM 3,920, 208 90 101 116 307
BAYELSA 1,703,358 67 144 105 316
CROSS RIVER 2,888,966 128 115 152 395
DELTA 4,098,391 85 122 121 328
EDO 3,218,332 90 103 108 301
RIVERS 5,185,400 72 102 95 269
TOTAL 21,014,655 532 687 697 1916
SOUTH WEST
EKITI 2,384,212 52 87 93 232
LAGOS 9,013,534 65 102 88 255
OGUN 3,728,098 66 98 96 260
ONDO 3,441,024 68 100 99 267
OSUN 3,423,535 71 98 96 265
OYO 5,591,589 77 102 103 282
TOTAL 27,581,992 399 587 575 1561
NORTH WEST
JIGAWA 4,348,649 68 82 101 251
KANO 9,383,682 76 72 111 259
KATSINA 5,792,578 71 80 97 248
KEBBI 3,238,628 91 77 99 267
KADUNA 6,066,562 138 100 144 382
SOKOTO 3,696,999 67 92 90 249
ZAMFARA 3,259,846 72 117 94 283
TOTAL 35,786,944 583 620 736 1939
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