Opinions
2022: CELEBRATING THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AMID SECURITY CHALLENGES
2022: CELEBRATING THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AMID SECURITY CHALLENGES
By: Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd) mni fnipr
The 15th of January every year has always been the day the Nigerian Government and people celebrate the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). The day marks the climax of almost two months of activities which always starts with the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund in the preceding November, by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The remembrance emblem which was like the Remembrance Day poppy worn in other countries such as the United Kingdom. These activities are replicated across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory and are conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Headquarters, Services, and the Nigerian Legion.
A visible element of all these is the sale of the Remembrance Emblems across the federation as part of the fund raising. This annual event is a mark of honour, respect, solidarity and appreciation of the importance and sacrifices of members of the AFN. 2 Millions of people buy the remembrance emblem and adorn their dresses with it, usually worn on the top left-hand side of their attires, close to the position of the heart, symbolizing deep concern for the fallen heroes and veterans. The adornment lasts until the 15th of January after the Wreath-laying Ceremony Day.
It is curious to see some people wearing it long afterwards, either out of ignorance or love for decorations and the Armed Forces. Depending on the organisers or mood of the nation, major activities associated with the Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Celebration, include book launch and symposiums on national unity, the importance and role of the military and include special prayers in places of worship.
Depending on which of the days come first between Friday and Sunday before the 15th of January, both the Christians and Muslims faithful hold special prayers in the form of interdenominational service in all military churches and special Jumma’at prayer on Friday at various mosques across military barracks and cantonments. At the Federal Capital Territory, the Special Jumma’at prayers often take place at the National Mosque, while Church Service is conducted at the National Christian Centre. The special prayers are followed by well laid out colourful activities on the 15th of January as the climax to the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
In Abuja, the activities include inspection of a static parade by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parade is mounted by AFN and the Nigerian Legion at the National Arcade, opposite Eagle Square, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. 3 The parade activities include Wreath-Laying Ceremony at which the President, Vice President and other top government functionaries including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Federation, Ministers of Defence and that of Federal Capital Territory, all lay Wreaths in front to the statue of the Unknown Soldier.
From the Armed Forces, the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs lay Wreaths. Others are the Inspector-General of Police, National Chairman of Nigerian Legion, the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, and a representative of the widows of our celebrated fallen heroes. Wreath Laying is done in a solemn mood and participants head towards the Wreath Laying spot in a slow march. The Chaplains and the Imams offer prayers while the detachment of the Artillery Corps of Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army release volleys of shots from their weapons in honour of the fallen heroes.
The President also releases white pigeons from a special cage placed within the Remembrance Arcade, before signing a special register at the Arcade. The wreath-laying ceremony is often very nostalgic and emotional for serving and retired military personnel and their family members, especially those of the deceased members of the AFN. Therefore, it is a momentous event.
The activities of this day are also replicated at the States level with varying sequences of actions and personalities laying the wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier or the Remembrance Arcade. However, the sequence and mode of these activities have been affected by current realities occasioned by security challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic with its ever-evolving 4 dangerous variants. Consequently, the tradition is often tampered with hence it may not take the usual standard order.
The Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Celebration dates back to 1919 when the British Commonwealth member states used the day to mark the end of the First World War and honour the memory of those who died during the War. On gaining independence and republican status, the day was changed to honour the veterans of the First and Second World Wars as well as those of the Nigerian Civil War solemnly but grandly.
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It was then called Armed Forces Remembrance Day and was celebrated on the 11th of November every year. However, with the end of the Nigerian Civil War in 1970, Nigeria decided to adopt the 15th of January every year to commemorate and honour her Armed Forces and fallen heroes, with additional emphasis on those living and serving. Keeping a day aside to celebrate the Armed Forces by nations is a worldwide phenomenon and a commendable gesture that recognizes the importance of the military in national development and their increasing role in the quest for peace and security.
The day and the activities around it boosts troops’ morale, gives them hope and a greater sense of belonging. Therefore, the recognition and honour are rightly deserved, especially given the increasing role of AFN in internal security operations, with troops deployed in over 34 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Despite these routines and rituals, the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration should be an occasion for sober reflection and critical appraisal of the AFN in the drive to make it more professional, responsive, effective, and better to meet up with 5 the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian citizens in these contemporary trying times.
As an individual who served and voluntarily retired from the service about three years ago, I regard this important and critical institution, as a symbol of national power, as the required instigator for our national development. The AFN has been noted worldwide as one of the most courageous, loyal, and professional military with a history of successful battles, exploits and military campaigns during the First and Second World Wars. It’s gallant contribution to world peace and security through Peace Support and Enforcement operations under the auspices of the United Nations, the erstwhile Organization of African Unity (now African Union) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from the 1960s to date, which are unquantifiable. There is no gainsaying therefore that the AFN has been a stabilizing factor for our national unity, and it is the vanguard of democratic governance, especially since 1999.
Undoubtedly, the AFN of Nigeria has not fared badly over the years, even in the prevailing circumstances in the country. They are in the vanguard of the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and other security challenges. Yet, despite all these sacrifices, the level of understanding and appreciation of the AFN is not commensurate with the tremendous role it is playing, and daily sacrifices. Over the years, the AFN and indeed the nation, have lost so many gallant officers, soldiers, ratings, airmen and women, as well as, many equipment in the course of national duty. 6 Many have been injured, losing limbs, sight, and other parts of the body.
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The Army, in particular, lost its then Chief, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, along with other senior army officers and his personal staff on Friday 21 May 2021 in a plane crash that occurred at Kaduna while on an official duty. The unfortunate incident occurred barely four months after he was appointed Chief of Army Staff.
All these are irreparable and indelible losses to the nation and humanity. Beyond that, the various Services under their able and respective Chiefs have been discharging their duties creditably. The renewed jointness and synergy of efforts amongst the Services and other security agencies under the strategic direction of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, is indeed commendable.
The renewed synergy of efforts coupled with the launching of newly acquired military weaponry and equipment such as drones, the Super Tucano, Mine Resistant Anti-Ambush Protected Vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carriers by the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force and the reclaiming of parts of Lake Chad by the Nigerian Navy and the current wave of operations in the Northwest geo-political zone are gradually yielding results.
While there is a need to do more, kudos are given to the military who needs to be celebrated as obtainable in other parts of the world. However, despite the various achievements, efforts, and sacrifices by the gallant AFN, some pessimists have not seen the reason for the remembrance and celebration. The reluctance on the part of some of these Nigerians to 7 appreciate and celebrate the AFN and the veterans, stemmed from a lack of understanding of the AFN, its role, and the conduct of a few misfits in the system.
This calls for more enlightenment for Nigerians to understand the unique nature of military service, which involves being patriotic, requires able-bodied men and women, to be absolutely loyal and dedicated to duty. It should be noted that the Service comprises Nigerians who voluntarily enlisted to defend the territorial integrity of the nation, making personal and group sacrifices to the extent of losing their lives for the comfort, well-being, safety, and security of others.
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We, therefore, need to support and encourage them as they continue to discharge their duties creditably, dispassionately, and professionally. Therefore, Nigerians have every reason to celebrate their Armed Forces based on these accomplishments and for the sake of boosting their morale. On their part, members of the AFN should also understand that Nigerians expect a lot from them, and their line of duty and purpose is a matter of trust.
Whatever they have and hold, in terms of equipment, weapons and platforms are in trust for the Nigerian people and should be used bearing that in mind. The AFN must remain apolitical and professional men and women devoid of any extraneous variables. There is no doubt that the AFN is overstretched, given their deployment in internal security operations and other policing duties in different parts of the country.
The AFN have collectively gone beyond their statutory responsibilities of defending the nation to undertaking numerous internal 8 operations and humanitarian activities in aid of civil authority and to needy Nigerian communities, all in the efforts to maintain peace and security in support of democratic governance in our country. This is something to be cherished, proud of and proudly celebrated.
Nigerians need to support and appreciate the AFN, possibly by providing information which will assist in their operations and by identifying with the Remembrance Day Celebration activities through the purchase and adorning the remembrance emblems from the month of November to 15th January. The government needs to do more in shoring up the capacity and the capability of the AFN, by kitting, equipping and increasing the human resource holding. The other security agencies must be given similar treatment. The budgetary allocation of the military and other security agencies must be proportionate to the existential threats facing the nation.
This will allow them perform their assigned roles and provide security for the nation., thereby creating an enabling environment for development. The Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Celebration is for both the dead and the living. Consequently, there is also the need to review the welfare packages of the military to ensure that they live, move and fight in comfort. The severance packages and entitlements to the families of the deceased need to be reviewed and paid as at when due. In particular, the government needs to fund and pay all outstanding group life insurance and other entitlements owed to the families of our fallen heroes.
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The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, streamline the payment process and harmonize the lingering animosity between the Ministry of Defence and Defence 9 Headquarters as regards the administration and welfare of veterans and deceased heroes’ families. A situation where our veterans’ resort to protest on account of non-payment of entitlements reminiscence of the terrible years gone by should not be allowed to repeat itself. Therefore, Nigerians should know that the AFN is theirs and whatever affects the AFN has corresponding multiplier consequences on our national security and unity. Thus, the unnecessary distraction and campaign of calumny against the leadership and the AFN are generally not in this nation’s best interest.
It is time for Nigerians to come together and support the AFN to succeed in their assigned constitutional responsibility, especially now that we are celebrating them. Indeed, the AFN has continued to move to greater heights, discharging its constitutional roles, despite the apparent distractions and protracted security challenges, with meagre resources. They need our collective support and understanding, let their efforts and sacrifices not be in vain. May the gentle souls of our departed heroes continue to rest in peace. Consequently, I join millions of other Nigerians to celebrate the AFN, now and always, wishing our gallant troops, wherever they might be deployed, a happy and prosperous 2022!
*The writer, Sani Usman Kukasheka, mni, voluntarily retired from the Nigerian Army in February 2019 as Director of Army Public Relations and Spokesman for the Nigerian Army at the rank of a Brigadier General.
2022: CELEBRATING THE ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA AMID SECURITY CHALLENGES
Opinions
THE BIU FORUM: FEW THINGS TO KNOW
THE BIU FORUM: FEW THINGS TO KNOW.
By: A G Abubakar
The Biu Forum was a child of circumstances. It was born in response to the fall out from the August 1991 state creation exercise by the Babangida military regime which initially located Biu in Yobe but removed same after a couple of days. To push for a redress or for an answer, the Forum was initiated. Its drivers came from the entire spectrum of the present day Biu Emirate and Shani Chiefdom, who were then resident in Lagos, the former federal capital.The first meeting was held in October 1991 at Block 4, Flat 3, the Bar Beach Towers, Victoria Island.
The inaugural and subsequent meetings of the forum were attended by such personalities as Shettima Saleh, Saidu Pindar, Tahir A.Musa, PC Abdullahi Mohammed, Musa Yamta, Hassan Bdliya, John Balami, Audu Shettima, Sanda Usman, Adamu Abdullahi, Musa Shani, Major (now Gen) Usman, Muhammad Dili, Ahmed Kuru, Jibrin A.Jibrin, A.G.Abubakar (Convener along with Musa Yamta), Mamman Audu, Paul Mari, Ishaku Abdullahi, Sale Mari Maina, Major. Ibrahim Bantam, Samaila Mamman, Sule Usman, C.D.Gali, and many more. These foundation members nurtured the Forum for years in Lagos before the seat of government was formally moved to Abuja.
Some of them are of blessed memory (may the Almighty grant them His mercy, Ameen), though a lot more are still living. The major objective of the forum at inception was to build a unity of purpose to tackle the challenges facing Biu Emirate, particularly its excision from the then newly created Yobe State. Plus, the need to call for attention to the brazen discriminations visited upon Biu people in the state’s civil service, while also pursuing the creation of a Savannah State. Same, with extending moral and material supports to victims of natural disasters and others like the then Waka-Biu crisis.
It would be recalled that after the Babangida military government decided to split old the Borno State, late General Abacha, then the Chief of Army Staff and the defacto number “two” man, who happened to be of Borno extraction, was assigned to consult with the Shehu as well as other opinion leaders on the government’s proposal to curve out a new state out of Borno. Late Bunu Sherrif, a son of the soil (Goniri), who was then serving as Minister of Labour among others, was to serve as a facilitator. The rough edges were therefore smoothened.
Eventually, Yobe was created. The configuration of which comprised three emirates, namely Biu, Fika, and Bade. Borno and Bama emirates were to remain as the New Borno State. The number of local governments was equally balanced at 22 each. Now, it is lopsidedly 17 and 27 LGAs for Yobe and Borno, respectively.
Along the line, some forces opposed to the inclusion of Biu emerged. The first one was the supposed friction between the Emirs of Biu and Fika regarding the order of protocol. A smokescreen, however, because the real reason was that Fika Emirate was promised the State capital (precisely Potiskum), but that was if Biu wasn’t part of the equation. The other reason was that Biu and Borno Emirates had a historical tie that made the duo almost conjoined. This was also untenable in that Ngazargamo that served as the capital of the old Kanem-Borno was severed into Yobe State. In the end, Biu remains part of Borno.
This development polarised the citizens of Biu Emirate into two. The Elders were not so favourably disposed towards leaving Borno, while the larger youth groups were at home with Yobe.
The advantages they averred included the possibility of playing more dominant political and economic roles in the new state, given the fact that Biu used to hold and still holds the Deputy Governor portfolio in Borno. The emirates (Fika and Biu) equally serve as the manpower base of the region . State politics could turn out to be like Adamawa, where all ethnic groups and/or stripes of faith can become the number one citizen of the state. The Emir of Biu would naturally be the most senior, in addition.
Based on the foregoing, Biu made a case for inclusion or, better still, a re-inclusion into Yobe. A move that was resisted vehemently by certain quarters under the umbrella of BEDA. Others who lent their voices included the Birma, Galadima Stanley Balami, PC Ali Biu, and Alhaji Ibrahim Damchida, all of blessed memory.
The Biu citizens who were pushing for the readjustment initially got the support of His Royal Highness, the Revered Mai Umar, who gracefully endorsed the demand document titled, “A Call For the Adjustment of Biu Emirate into Yobe State.” Or rather agreed for the document to be endorsed on his behalf, which was done. However, under pressure from all corners, His Royal Highness had to reconsider his support, as the Emirate found itself in a difficult situation. It was this development and regardless of the push back that the Biu Forum was formed as an alternative platform to still pursue the inclusion of Biu and Shani into Yobe State.
A petition to the government, was subsequently produced and forwarded. And to get a wider publicity and forestall suppression the Forum’s document was sent to the press . The rested influencial national newspaper, the Sunday Concord of 6th October 1991 carried the entire document. Yours faithfully picked the bill.
One of the the committed and highly articulate members of the Forum at the time, Alh. Muhammed Shehu Birma had his relationship with his principal, the Hon. Minister, Bunu Sheriff strained because of his role and support. Alh. Birma was one of the Special Assistants to the Minister who worked tirelessly to obtain the concurrence of major stakeholders to buy into the Forum’s activities.
When the misunderstanding so created on account of the state creation seemed unabating, formal meetings were called by the late elder statesman Alh. Damcida at his Probyn road, Ikoyi, home to sort things out. The “family” gathering enjoyed the presence of late Dr.Saidu Muhammad, PC Ali Biu, A.G.Abubakar, Muhammad S.Birma, Amb. Saidu Pindar, Alhaji Madu Biu, Shettima Saleh, with apologies from Dr.Bukar Usman.
One of the resolutions that came out of the series of dialogues was an undertaking by Mallam to seek an audience with General Abacha for possible reconsideration of the petition. The outcome was the creation of Hawul and Kwaya Kusar LGAs, while Biu as a whole stayed in Borno State.
As time went on, moves got started to merge the activities of the Forum to those of the senior Biu Development Association, BDA. The BDA is now BEDA (Biu Emirate Development Association). The move never materialised and the activities of both slowed down. It took the efforts of patriots like Engineer Ibrahim Usman, Dan Masani Muhammad Ibrahim, Adamu Abdullahi, Amb. Saidu, Ibrahim M.Kwajaffah, Muhammad Buba, Mai Musti, Bukar Umar and a host of others to revive the Forum and keep it going.
So for all intents and purposes the Biu Forum was not a Biu Local Government outfit. It was initiated to protect and promote the interest of Biu and Shani Emirates. And indeed every Aburwa on the planet. How it became a Forum exclusively for Biu Local Government Area was maybe a later development to give the Forum a sharper focus. And maybe to ensure a seamless coexistence with the senior BEDA.This has been a short story of the now, 33-year old (1991 to –) initiative.
A.G.Abubakar agbarewa@gmail.com
THE BIU FORUM: FEW THINGS TO KNOW
Opinions
Nigeria: Why the youths must say “NO” to protest.
Nigeria: Why the youths must say “NO” to protest.
By: Dr. James Bwala
History should teach us lessons. And we have so many examples that are part of the history of some countries around us. Protests as being engineered and called for are never in the interest of the young Nigerian; rather, they are a way to further suppress and darken the future of young ones, and therefore, I see this as another evil rising on Nigeria, which I hope the youths will see as reasons not to be tempted to join those who do not mean well for them and for Nigeria. Those who want to cash in on the protest to their advantage are pushing their own evil interests to deny the young Nigerian his or her own hope for the future.
I followed many calls on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and listened to many voices calling on the Nigerian youths to join them on the days to demonstrate and show their displeasure to the government over hunger in the land. They claimed it was about a policy, and I did not really understand the truth about such claims. Some pointed to the issue of insecurity that people cannot go to their farms and blamed the present administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima, and on this too, they are not speculating on facts that are leading them to want to express anger through protest.
I could not understand why all the things they are pointing to have been on their doorsteps for over 10 years and they would not protest until now. Does it mean that their eyes are now open to the situation we all found ourselves in? I have lived in northeastern Nigeria, and I have seen situations created by insecurity where children, young men, and adults hold each other’s hands and cry out for help to have a drop of grain and for one cut of a handful of mold grain flour to go through their mouths and down their throats for the day, but they could not have the assurance of such a meal. No one came to the rescue; no one called for a protest, and the people built their resilience until the heavens brought succor.
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The situation in which certain individuals are coming to tell young Nigerians to protest or to demonstrate against the administration requires a deeper look into their motives. It may not be about hunger in the land afterwards, for we have endured many hungers and we did not protest, so why now? Politics is still in the play, and a few individuals—I mean, very few individuals—who are not happy with the Tinubu and Shettima administration are orchestrating the wind horses. Some young Nigerians may think otherwise, but believe me, there are many more evils behind the call for protest than what you are hearing on social media, and these are about destroying a whole lot of what you have hoped for.
I will suggest that no Nigerian youth should join or listen to calls from those who have sent their children abroad for you to continue to be their foot soldiers, and in the end, they achieve something and you achieve nothing. Take a look at the protests or demonstrations in the past. Not outside Nigeria, but within. Some of you have participated, and you are still on the street after that protest. Your peace and happiness have been taken. Those you fought for—have they come to salvage your situation? Unless you want to remain perpetually a fool on the street with very little to gain and no knowledge of what you are bargaining, then you may choose to go with the evil callers; otherwise, say ‘NO’ to protest as it is not actually in your interest.
This administration, which you are being instigated to demonstrate against, has won many battles in the last year. The latest in the Hope initiative are the achievements of the court ruling on local government autonomy. This government has achieved free imports for drugs and rice and brought peace through the establishment of the livestock ministry. These are a few achievements from the last six months. We have waited for eight years in hope through the Buhari administration, and no one has seen positive changes, but we waited. Herein, with the Tinubu and Shettima administrations, we are seeing the moves and the results. Can we not hold on to this renewed hope since we are seeing the changes coming?
Nigerian youths, let no one deceive us into doing their bid. They have places to go; we only have Nigeria, which is all we have. When they moved out, we remained here. They cannot come from Europe and America to ask us to set our houses on fire while they go back to their second homes and leave us in the shackles that we used our own hands to perpetuate their desires against us for their selfish and evil interests. No, we must not come to the level they want us to reach. We must rise with renewed hope and join this administration to build a Nigeria where peace and justice reign, just as we pledged to build in our re-engineering calls for a better tomorrow.
Dr. James BWALA, PhD, writes from Abuja.
Nigeria: Why the youths must say “NO” to protest.
Opinions
Why Borno residents should support the Zulum Administration
Why Borno residents should support the Zulum Administration
By: Yusuf Adamu
Unfortunately, the lack of electricity and shortage of water in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, have continued to turn some sections of the state against the government. While many are thinking it is the government job to provide electricity and water, a lot of people are not looking at the efforts the government is putting in during the phase of challenges from saboteurs and terrorists as it affects the issues of electricity in the state, particularly.
Borno State has been in darkness for the last two weeks, and the governor spoke with concern from faraway Saudi Arabia, where he went to worship, and he was informed of the electricity issue back home. Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has done tremendously well in ensuring that Borno State overcomes the issue of electricity, to the extent that he went beyond his jurisdiction to ensure that he solved the problem.
He went further to collaborate with the NNPC, which informed the setting of a gas plant in Maiduguri to support the epileptic power supply as a result of the continuous attacks on the electricity supply lines feeding Maiduguri. However, the activities of saboteurs, who would rather, out of their greed, overload the gas plant, have constantly resulted in the disruption of the gas plant’s capacity to provide adequate supply.
Rather than people condemning the government for some of this man-made distraction, I think the people of Borno State should pray for an end to the activities of terrorists and the saboteurs who continuously take advantage of the situation to speak ill of the government. If the opposition is speaking, we would understand, but when citizens say otherwise, we would like to remind them that the governor of Borno State has been doing everything possible to make Borno State great.
The collaboration with NNPC and the purchase of electric vehicles to ease pain for people are things to see and agree that the governor meant well for his people. This is aside from the numerous projects he was able to achieve in the state. We are also lucky to have the Vice President, who is our own and whose focus is also to see Borno State become great again.
Just yesterday, he was speaking on the issues affecting the state when he arrived in the state for the sallah celebration. He gave hope for a better Borno state and spoke well of the collaboration the federal government is having with Borno state to end the perennial challenges facing the state at the moment. Let us continue to uplift our leaders in prayer and support their dream of making Borno one of the best things that happens to its people in the current administration.
***Yusuf Adamu writes from Maiduguri and is the former political adviser to Kashim Shettima.
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