By Prince Success
Nigerians are very difficult people. Most times, we
baselessly portray ourselves as people who infinitely fault everything,
including our own shadows, which we have no idea about its existence. To have a
probing mind is a positive asset, especially when it is devoted to positive
use. But in our case, we are more prone
to the negation offered by useless and unproductive criticisms steeped in
lies.
I was amazed at recent media reports faulting the
extension of the tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi
Gabriel Olonisakin. The extension is just for one year and our writers or let
me say, armchair critics have found it necessary and expedient to fault the
decision of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) to accord him this privilege.
And to find justification for the unwarranted pen
assault on the President and also, Gen. Olonisakin, all manner of lies have
been invented and embellished to give the warped thoughts of the critics some
semblance of truth.
A reporter with one of the national dailies
particularly displayed a confounding ignorance by crafting a report, which
admits everything right about the re-appointment of Gen. Olonisakin. But the
evil inclination to paint every action of government in black pushed him to
submit to chicanery.
A part of the report, which he credited to weird
investigation laughably said, "Buhari's decision to extend the tenure of
the CDS which would have ended this weekend, was due to political maneuverings
by vested interest who wants to ensure that the two most powerful positions in
the military, that of the CDS and that of the Chief of Army Staff, remain in
the core north.”
I do not know what investigation as claimed by the
reporter rewarded a fresh genealogy to the CDS General Olonisakin as a Northerner.
To put the records straight, Gen. Olonisakin is not a Northerner as claimed by
the cop reporter. The Defence boss is an indigene of Ekiti state in Southern
Nigeria. And this deliberate and mischievous muddling of facts has
automatically invalidated the further claims by the reporter that President
Buhari “wants to ensure that the two most powerful positions in the Military,
that of the CDS and that of the Chief of Army Staff, remain in the core north.”
Nothing can betray truth more pungently than this
disingenuous contrivance. How would Buhari scheme to maintain the two most
powerful positions in the military in the core north? By the way, what is or
constitute “Core North” and criteria were used to determine which positions in
the military are powerful and less powerful? Do we believe on the strength of
the reporter’s submissions that the Chief of Air Staff and his Naval
counterpart are insignificant positions in the military? Do I even believe that
politics is factored into the appointment of Service Chiefs; an exercise I know
is strictly guided by seniority and merit?
It is sluggish journalism for reporters to speculate
unauthenticated news and pass them as facts.
The devotion of a little time would have informed the reporter that the
extension of the tenure of Gen. Olonisakin was spurred by his excellent
performance and dedication to the counter-terrorism war in the Northeast and
elsewhere in Nigeria.
The CDS’s tremendous sacrifices and seamless working
relationship with the various arms of the military made President Buhari to
accord him this rare honour. And the intention is nothing other than allowing
him complete the absolute flushing of terrorists from the shores of Nigeria. It
is not about any political maneuvering as implied.
Perhaps, the lazy journalist has never burdened
himself with thoughts of visiting Borno state, which was the hotbed of
terrorism or the Northeast region, when terrorism raged. All he knows about the
battle with Boko Haram insurgents and its eventual defeat by the Nigerian
military are media reports, some of which under reported the severity of the
problem or failed to reflect the exactitude of events in the Northeast.
So, he is not primed to appreciate the enormous
responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the Nigerian military in battling
terrorism and the sacrifices they have made so that Nigerians, including him,
now live in peace. If the President decides to reward a service of excellence
to the CDS, why would anybody attempt to pick bones or even frown at the use of
his discretion?
I hail from the South of Nigeria. And like some
Nigerians, I was one of those who never strongly believed in the person of
President Buhari as leader of Nigeria. I was frankly cynical about him. But I
have also realized that sometimes, it is more reasonable to give a man the
chance to prove himself.
And since Buhari mounted the seat as Nigeria’s
President, he has demonstrated in words and deeds a religious commitment to the
cause of this country. In him, you see the portrait of a man deeply pained at
the destruction of Nigeria by a corrupt political elite and perpetual power
mongers in the country. I have come to see him as the most detribalized
Nigerian leader and it reflects in all his actions as President of Nigeria.
Today, the Southeast region, which rejected him at
the polls are proud beneficiaries of programmes and projects of his
administration. The number of roads currently ongoing in the region would make
anyone think, the people led other sections of the country in voting for a
Buhari Presidency. But essentially, these are the credentials of Buhari and
when he declared in his maiden speech to Nigerians that “I am for nobody, but I
am for everybody,” it casted off the shadows of partisanship, ethnicity and
religious considerations in his administration of the country.
So, I am pained at the vile attempts by the reporter
to discolour the extension of the tenure of Gen. Olonisakin with regional
garbs. The desperation is awful and the intent despicable. Instead of applauding
Buhari for his impartial patronage of the Southern region, particularly the
Southwest, the spoilers have rather delighted in condemnations. The ulterior
motive of playing one section of the country against as manifested in the
jaundiced report is condemnable.
If other over-ambitious senior military officers
nurse the ambition of becoming the CDS, there is no problem with it. But they
should be patient enough to wait for their time, as ordained by God. To
meaninglessly castigate Buhari for a decision he has taken, which has neither
violated laws of the land nor is motivated by ulterior motives is regrettable
and lamentable.
I feel betrayed by this reporter for his thoughtless
display of ignorance about personalities and their geographical entities in
rendering service to the nation. Hmm!
This is noisy noise, devoid of any iota of reasoning. I look at it more as a
desperate attempt to poison the mind of Mr. President against the South because
a man falsely accused is sometimes compelled to act on the reverse side of the
accusation. We must discourage this thinking; if Nigeria must become the dream
nation we wish it.
Success is a public affairs analyst and contributed
this piece from Abuja.
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