Soldiers in Nigeria have, like their counterparts elsewhere in the world, faced the best of times and the worst of times. If you ask Nigerian soldiers to describe the type of time they have been facing lately, words such as “tough,” “dangerous,” “worse” and even “worst” are likely to feature prominently in their response.
And the reason isn’t difficult to decipher: since the lingering terror campaign by the radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram, heightened in recent years, life hasn’t been particularly thrilling for our soldiers; particularly the rank and file who, by virtue of the nature of their employment, must bear the brunt of every military campaign.
The foregoing salient facts are worth stressing given the controversy that has been raging since 12 soldiers were sentenced to death a couple of days ago for allegedly conspiring to commit mutiny and various other indulgence said to be inimical to the military service.
Not unexpectedly, condemnation and pleas for leniency have been flowing in equal measure since the grim judgment was delivered. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria encapsulated the views of these schools of thought in a statement signed by its president, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Musa Lawal.
We reiterate that we abhor the temperamental response of the tried soldiers to the needless loss of lives of their colleagues due to needless orders from above, and (we) urge the military to put its house in order,” the congress said, “we would not want to mention names but the dailies have it that there were senior military officers who before the Boko Haram crisis were poor but have … suddenly become billionaires overnight while the innocent rank and file of the military (are) killed by the sect due to their superior weapons.”
Two issues stand out in bold relief here – the temperamental response of the tried soldiers and the overnight stupendous wealth of senior military officers “who before the Boko Haram crisis were poor.”
As TUC and virtually all other commentators have pointed out, the condemned soldiers’ decision to more or less take the law into their hands (as evident in their “temperamental” indulgence) is lamentable, to put it mildly. Knowing fully well that indiscipline, disobedience, or – worse of all – mutiny of any kind is strictly frowned at by the military and usually carries grave penalty, their recent indulgence beats the imagination.
Putting the entire matter in proper perspective, the Defence Headquarters explained through the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, the death sentence did not only follow due process but was the penalty for the offences committed by the condemned men.
“A process has just been completed in conformity with our law,” the Defence spokesman reportedly said, adding “military works with procedures and this is to ensure discipline in the military. Sentences has to be ratified by appropriate authority and this is when the process will end. Our position is what is stated in that sentence until it is determined other wise.”
Against this backdrop, virtually all the military analysts who have commented on the issue were unanimous in their condemnation of the soldiers’ “temperamental reaction,” branding it out of order.
Consider, for example, what would have been the consequence had the military brass winked at mutiny or indiscipline by any soldier or group of soldiers: other soldiers would take a cue from their rascally colleague and act accordingly. Before one reassess what is happening, anarchy would be let upon the land as every soldier may take the law into his or her hand.
The President of the General Court Martial which tried the soldiers, Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo put it even more unequivocally by stating that the death sentence was essential in order to instill discipline in the Nigerian Army and protect the nation’s security. This is more so as the judgement is, according to him, “consistent with the regulations of the military anywhere in the world.”
One thing that stands out in all this unfortunate melodrama is the fact that the senior military officers are living a life of luxury while the rank and file are frustrated. The frustrations of the rank and file, the issue of poor equipment and lamentable welfare are genuine and evident, but protest is not part of their calling; it is tantamount to treason.
It goes without saying that from the moment anyone opts to be a soldier, he or she has effectively accepted to die for his/her country whenever it becomes imperative to do so. Indeed, the general consensus, as underscored above, is that although the military top brass feeds fat or are having a field day with the common purse, this does not justify the troop’s unruly conduct.
Yours sincerely takes exception to the seeming nonchalant and selfish attitude of the senior officers. All things considered, the bottom-line is that the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should not only continue with the remarkable support for and funding of the military, but ensure that budgetary allocations to this critical sector are judiciously expended with a view to further engendering the confidence of both the rank and file and officers alike.
