Division in the Ranks
Read Time:5 Minute, 14 Second
Letter from unknown group within the Nigerian Army accusing the command leadership of corruption and nepotism puts AHQ in panic mode
With days to the inauguration of Nigeria new “president” the Nigerian Army is in panic after a letter surfaced calling for revolution if the corruption and nepotism bedevilling the armed forces is not addressed. The letter was released Monday in a Sahara Reporters‘ post.
Army Headquarters has dismissed the allegations and calls for a revolution saying it was the work of a few rogue elements within its ranks, Tuesday.
It said the false alarm about religious and ethnic bigotry, within the Army, nepotism and corruption were spurious and baseless.
Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu made this known in a statement titled, ‘Claims of Corruption, Nepotism, Calculated to Destabilise the Country” in Abuja the Nigerian capital.
“The Nigerian Army has noted with dismay, a mischievous and systematic smear campaign aimed at inciting troops, heating up the polity and destabilizing the country through the spurious, baseless and false alarm on corruption, nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry within the Nigerian Army (NA).” The statement read.
“The report also contained some unimaginable slurs targeted at denigrating and demonizing the procedure for the selection of competent troops for Peace Support Operations (PSO), which has over the years earned the NA very well deserved encomiums and enviable status in the comity of nations in global defence, as a professional, hard-fighting, and disciplined institution.” The army spokesman stated.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu
“It is expedient to state that the real intention or otherwise of the infamous online media in publishing such toxic concoctions at this critical period is targeted at causing disaffection within a united and formidable military.” It stressed.
The Army took aimed at the Sahara Reporters the online medium which carried the story exclusively on Monday, where it reported that an hitherto unknown group ‘Concerned Patriotic Military Officers’ (CPMC) have threatened to force a radical revolution to save Nigeria if the ‘monumental corruption’ in the military is not checked forthwith.
The letter was sent to the Presidency, Service Chiefs and Senate on Sunday. They called for the probe of service chiefs and the former ones irrespective of their political affiliation because according to them, they are the ones failing this country.
They accused service chiefs (former and current) of buying refurbished equipment as new.
“Only soldiers and officers who serve in good places pay their ways to good places and foreign missions. The remaining just continue to fight war or serve in remote areas. Some are gods they are too precious to even serve in places that have bad weather. Too bad for this country,” the group said.
The letter titled: “The Military Promoting Grave Injustice And Unprofessionalism To Destroy Nigeria,” the concerned officers warned that even politicians will not be safe when the looming calamity is upon the country.
They vowed that “if this evil continues, we will force a radical revolution to save Nigeria. As you read this, just wait for tips on how to make your attacks more potent. Stop killing innocent Nigerians.”
It also warned the “President -Elect” Bola Tinubu to be careful so that the country would not be buried under him. It said many of the soldiers serving in hot arid places like the north east are unhappy with their colleagues serving in air conditioned offices far from the frontlines
The CPMC urged Nigerians to be prepared for revolution.
For the civilians, are you not tired of serving as slaves while the rich continue to empower themselves and family members? This is a warning. After this, there will be volumes providing guidelines for how war can be waged with even the army and the politicians who fail to put the army in check. If you cannot carry everyone along in the army let everybody return to their states and form a state army since some soldiers and officers are already in their places serving.
“These problems have been lingering for long and it is becoming the unfortunate norm. If you like do not correct the problems go and be looking for sacrificial lambs, Nigerian Army. It will surprise you when you start seeing action because many are affected. We are all Nigerians. To buy good weapons is a problem.”
It added, “Some of you agitators have a good cause but you don’t know how to go about it. Nowhere in Nigeria is impenetrable or indestructible. Wait for the exposures let this country heat up so there can be a restoration of values and prosperity. Nigerians, some of you are agitating and you have a just cause but you are not hitting the areas that will make this country sit up.
“Know that most Nigerians are being marginalized and must rise up and challenge this monster. Look at Niger Delta, a few fat selfish people just carry beards and come to the press as political mouthpieces while they rule and enslave their people while owning billions in money and assets all over Nigeria.
“Tompolo was wanted by the government but has been given over 4 billion naira monthly contract to secure oil facilities. Who is Tompolo and how many is he that the faith of a whole country will be put in the hands of a selfish person with no interests of the masses? Just like the army, you will see few benefitting from him coming out to justify it. The ones suffering and being marginalized are the majority but the few benefitting selfish cowards are the only ones occupying sensitive offices.
“So when there is a legitimate observation of marginalization and injustice those wicked few benefitting and their accomplices suppress those genuine concerns. Enough is enough. Nigerians, the ones suffering are over 200 million across every work of life or non-working citizens. Come together and conquer this evil but the army will soon collapse if this continues because the structure is failing already,” the letter partly read.
The Nigerian Army in assurance to Nigerians said, “All personnel of the NA are urged to remain steadfast and unswayed by the antics of unpatriotic elements, who for selfish gains want to plunge the nation into chaos.”
Akowe reporting from Abuja with materials from Sahara Reporters
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
Average Rating