Some retired senior military officers have lashed out at the Defence Headquarters for describing former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an embarrassment to the military institution.
The Defence Headquarters in a remark on its Facebook page on Monday had accused the former President of politicising serious national security and military issues.
The military authorities were reacting to a statement credited to the former President that the general elections were postponed to enable President Goodluck Jonathan to use the Service Chiefs for tenure extension in an electronic mail on Monday.
But a former Chief of Army Staff , Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.),in a telephone interview with our correspondent, condemned the military authorities over the comments.
Akinrinade said Obasanjo was exercising his political rights, adding that it was absurd for a junior officer to say anything against his superiors.
The ex-general said, “Obasanjo has exercised his political rights. I think his joining politics is what is causing this nonsense. What is the business of the Defence Headquarters in politics anyway? How did they get to the point where they are reading political statement by politicians. They are now reacting to it. Obasanjo didn’t abuse the armed forces. He must have his reasons for what he said. It is a very bad idea for a junior officer to come out in the public and chastise an ex-commander-in-chief.”
Also, a former Director of Army Legal Services, Col. Akin Kejawa (retd.), described the comments against Obasanjo as being the product of “the indiscipline that the military has degenerated into.”
Kejawa, cautioned the military authorities, saying the reaction betrayed the tenets of respect and discipline that the army was noted for.
According to him, the comments made mockery of the army.
He said, “It is unethical. They should know how to respect elders. I have read the report this morning and don’t think that is good. It is very disrespectful. He was a former head of state and he should be accorded due respect, no matter what he has said.
“This is what we are calling indiscipline in the military. A commander is doing something; you cannot come out and start condemning him. In the military, we don’t do things like that. That is my own personal view and as a lawyer with experience in military law, that is not proper. Can somebody call his father a stupid person? No matter what mistake he has made, you can’t dishonour him.”
When contacted, the first Military Administrator of Osun State, Maj. Gen. Leo Ajiborisa (retd.), declined to comment on the matter because it was against military etiquette to speak about his superiors.
He said, “I don’t discuss political issue. It is insubordination for anybody to write about his senior. Military etiquette does not teach us that way, so I am not interested in pronouncing anything. I am not a politician; they can go and sort their matter.”
When contacted for his comment, retired Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot, said he should be given time to mourn his younger brother’s wife, who he said, just died on Tuesday morning. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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All well said. I wish these same ex-Generals had spoken up with the same force when Gen Buhari was being called an illiterate and the army refused to speak up in his defense. I said it before - the insults on Buhari over his certificate issue were not an insult on his person, but on the entire Nigerian military institution. Your ex-Commander-In-Chief who was a General was being called an illiterate, and you all kept quiet because of politics and money?
ReplyDeleteShut up and go to school before seeking elective post and speak go command of English in the public to show that you went to school not ato ato ayi Avc etc-show poorly educated Buhari with poor oral English in the public.
DeleteAnonynous 9:14 am. You are the illiterate here. You cannot even compose simple sentence without errors. Go and learn how to write. The guy is entitled to his opinion. This government is surely a failure and has digraced our respected military in the global world
Delete@ Anonymous 9:14. Ironic. look at ur written english. Anyway its very Nigerian to see someone that knows nothing challenge a master in in his field. On what grounds do u call GMB an illiterate? because u cannot see his certificate. Meanwhile the same person has attended courses home and abroad with excellent reports written on him by foreign Generals. Define illiteracy. Thats on the one hand. Lets assume that he is in fact an illiterate. This same illiterate was literate enough to achieve results only educated people are supposed to achieve including presiding over nigeria with u in it. WHO IS THE ACTUAL ILLETERATE NOW. mumu.
DeleteI've always said this, Military is another arm of PDP and it's a pity.
ReplyDeleteI guess we are almost there. I can clearly see an IBB script being written out. I can also categorically say as usual, OBJ will win IBB this time again. OBJ was always ahead of IBB naturally...
ReplyDeleteAll well said, but what do we expect from a military that has been bought over into politics?
ReplyDeletefoolish gej Dhq buhari will dasorb u, u don't HV respect for u senior bonch of idiot shegu kawia
ReplyDeleteD military has always been corrupt but the politicians fail to realize that they're digging their graves. Coup d'état is staring them in d face and they can't see it. Dat is always the result when u have a corrupt military.
ReplyDeleteObj is an embarrassment not only to the military but also to the African continent . He should learn how to conduct himself because if you make yourself banana monkeys will eat you
ReplyDeleteNigerian army ard now pdp army becouse they are now depend the interest of pdp not nigerian peoples let them go and obtaine their pdp membership card
ReplyDeleteThe comments by the ex-generals revealed the extent of decadence in the Nigerian military. Where is the age long tradition of discipline and respect in the military? For whatever reasons, President Obasanjo has earned the respect of all globally, and MUST be honored accordingly. My opinion, is that President Obasanjo is the most influential and charismatic Nigerian to date. The history of Nigeria is incomplete without President Obasanjo either as a soldier that fought for the unity of this country or as the President with visible lasting legacies. President Obasanjo's transformation agenda is real and not on the pages of newspapers/vs. We demand apologies from the DHQ for this embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteCorrect and I agree with u.
DeleteWell said!
DeleteSeconded!
DeleteAgreed
DeleteWhy is there so much noise about what the DHQ said about OBJ? He made himself a laughing stock before them. Gen Yakubu Gowon is senior to OBJ and yet when OBJ asked Gen Gowon what he forgot to collect in the State House some years back, was that comment not insultive to his former Commaner-in-Chief? Gen Yakubu Gowon has clearly demonstrated that he, indeed, is a Statesman, but look at OBJ, he would like to criticize every government in power, but would not tolerate criticisms from any quarters when he was in power. So, he should take a cue from Gen Gowon, who rather than if I cannot get what I want, I pull you down syndrome of OBJ, has continued to be a builder and has more respect that any other military Head of State in this country. What is good for goose is equally good for the gander and those who live in glass houses should avoid throwing stones.
ReplyDelete@anonymous 15 feb 2015 1.57pm, well said man, respect is reciprocal. Don't mind all these tribalist making useless comments
ReplyDeleteWell said
ReplyDelete