OBJ ‘a serious embarrassment to the military’

The defence headquarters (DHQ) has described the outburst of Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian president, over the role of the army in the nation’s politics as unbecoming and an embarrassment to the military.

Obasanjo had accused President Goodluck Jonathan of plotting in cahoots with the service chiefs to extend his tenure.

But reacting to Obasanjo’s allegation on Monday, the Nigerian military stated that the former president was playing to the gallery.

It also described the allegation as surprising, false, and not well-intentioned.

“The defence headquarters has noted the remarks of a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as reported in the media stating his views on perceived state of the armed forces and the roles being allegedly played by the military in the nation’s political process in recent times,” it said.

“The leadership and cross section of the military believes that the former president and retired general has every right to be interested in the actions and fate of the military. Hence, his views, like many others, will continue to be accorded the well-deserved attention. It is however noteworthy that most of his utterances lately indicate an attitude of playing to the gallery or indulging in politicisation of serious national security or military affairs.

“For instance, the comments credited to Obasanjo alleging that the postponement of the general election was to enable President Jonathan use the service chiefs to plot a tenure extension is, to say the least, very surprising. It is surprising, indeed, considering the fact that the retired general chose to ignore the clarification and emphatic assurances of non-partisanship of the military as declared in a DHQ statement on the position of the armed forces in the ongoing political activities. His motive, as usual, remains unknown but it is certainly less than noble or well-intentioned. We dare say again that Obasanjo’s assertions are false.”

The Nigerian military said that much as it desired to respect the old general and his views, it had become necessary to point out that his conduct and unguarded utterances of late had fallen short of the standard of discipline expected of an individual who has had the privilege of service in the military and risen to the status of a general.

“The behaviour of retired general (Chief) Obasanjo has been so unbecoming and continues to constitute a serious embarrassment to the military before all who have reasonably and rightly adjudged the essence of military background in terms of the high value and standard it tends to contribute to statesmanship.

“We feel constrained to remind the old general that the world has moved beyond that parochial and self-adulating reasoning and mindset which he seems stuck to. Indeed, he needs to be told that by virtue of their better training, exposure, education, assessment and environment, the military personnel of today are already far beyond his level in their appreciation of democracy and it’s indispensability for the stable and prosperous society, which Nigerians cherish.

“In this instance, the military wishes to inform the retired general that the institution which he bequeathed to the nation has certainly developed beyond how he left it. The Nigerian military is now better placed to strive for the maintenance of the legacies & ethos of service, valour, subordination to constituted authorities, and nonpartisan commitment to duty and fatherland. It has to be restated that the military, as an institution, is neither as inept in the discharge of its duties, nor is it being misused for political ends in the manner the retired General Obasanjo who was also a former president has possibly been made to believe.

“Indeed, the system now strongly believes in democracy as well as its structures and institutions to the extent that it will do nothing whatsoever to undermine or truncate the steady growth and development of the nation’s democracy. The military will remain professional as it keeps doing its best along with others to ensure adequate security and defence of the nation’s territorial integrity in this auspicious period in the country.

“The defence headquarters will like to encourage Obasanjo to be genuinely interested in the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s democratic credentials. He is also enjoined to endeavour to improve in his understanding of intricate issues and try to encourage the military rather than continue with this tendency to indulge in imputation of ulterior motives to every effort, all for the purpose of discrediting well-thought-out policies or decisions related to the military’s roles in the polity. The support of all well-meaning elderly Nigerians remains vital in the onerous duty of working for the stability, defence, and peace of our country under duly constituted authorities in a democratic environment.”