THE trending altercation between FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike and Naval Officer A.M. Yerima has further sounded the alarm on the failure of soft-governance; constitutional democracy, constitutionalism and the urgent need for demilitarization of Nigerian political space.
That Officer Yerima obstructed the FCT Minister from gaining access to a parcel of land, citing “obeying superior orders” must be viewed for it is: brazen assault on the nation’s democracy, however quasi as it is. In the eyes of the law, the Minister’s actions were lawful, as he was acting in his capacity as the Minister of the FCT, responsible for land administration in Abuja.
By section 297(2) of the 1999 Constitution, all lands in the FCT belong to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the President has delegated powers to the Minister without restrictions. This matter has been settled unequivocally by the Supreme Court that every military or police officer swears an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is superior to any military or paramilitary’s selective illegal orders.
It’s even more tragic that after the disgraceful and national embarrassment, the former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai was the first to arrogantly stoke the fire of the military’s hig-handedness and brazen impunity. Ever since, the commercialized Nigerian military leadership has been accusing Nyesom Wike of perceived brashness, at the same time celebrating the impudence and arrogance young Naval officer who should have been in the battlefield curtailing terrorism sweeping across the swathes of the entire.
This crisis was made worse by the boastful green khaki wearing Yerima when he said “I’m a two-star General obeying superior orders from above”. What is the order Yerima was obeying? Is Yerima a General or a Lieutenant? This may be one of the reasons Nigeria military is a basketball case when a low-ranking officer is falsely claiming to be a General, while the nation is in turmoil under the yoke of Fulani Islamic terrorism.
By the way, the retired military officer whose property Lieutenant A.M. Yerima was protecting is Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, a former Chief of Naval Staff. The property in dispute is located in the Gaduwa area of Abuja. The land was originally allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for park and recreation purposes, but the company sold it to individuals, including Gambo, without proper authorization.
The question is was Yerima aware that he was obeying superior “illegal orders” from corrupt military who used resources meant to procure arms and munitions to fight terrorism in Nigeria to acquire property which their entire salary for 35-year in service cannot afford. The records are replete on how Nigeria military top hierarchy used resources meant to prosecute war against terrorists were diverted to acquire property in Nigeria and beyond — as well as financing terrorism— using illegal miners unto the bargain.
General Tukur Buratai was quick to step into the plague for his own personal survival having been on the spotlight of graft and unremitting fraud while he was in the saddle as a top military brass. Buratai is facing allegations of corruption, including the purchase of two houses in Dubai worth $1.5 million, which he claimed were bought with his savings in 2013. The integrity deficit Buratai during his time was involved in human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings, which cast a shadow of doubt on his professionalism as a military officer.
How does a hopeless military that has not been able to curtail terrorism and banditry is not usurping the authority of Tinubu’s presidency? While I am not calling for a head to be chopped off, the military should be tutored military subjugation to democratic rule if Nigeria must move forward. The military should concentrate on task of fighting terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and other vices tearing the country along religious and ethnic faultlines.
There should be an urgent end to the military boys who are often seen engaging in or competing with democratic personage in government. It’s a sign of disorientation and destabilization on the part of the military encroachment on the constitution of Nigeria, regardless of the fact that Nyesom Wike lowered himself and the Federal Government by engaging in altercation with the youth exuberant soldier who is a product of a degenerate military formation without respect for constituted authority.
Officer Yerima’s actions constitute a breach of the Nigerian Constitution and service laws for which he should be courtmashard. Celebrating his actions without addressing the underlying issues may unleash a reign of terror by men in khaki against hapless civilians. It is essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure that military personnel respect civilian authority.
Any attempt to use military influence to subjugate and prevent lawful action and duties of civil Nigerian government officials is the least to be encouraged as it undermines both the authority of the state and the professionalism of the military alike.
Erasmus Ikhide contributed this piece via: ikhideluckyerasmus@gmail.com
