An Elder Called Danjuma

Lt-general Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, at 70, is an elder, more so in a country with average life expectancy of 43 years. His involvements in governments, whether for good or ill, further cast him in that role.
When he speaks, he is expected to be taken serious, after all, he has been a factor in the affairs of the country in the past 40 years. His recent newspaper interview, where he reproduced the accounts of the 1966, in which he admitted playing an active part, added nothing to sooth the bruised feelings of hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who lost their relations in the riots and the war.

Danjuma likes to be heard. He writes history as if he was the sole witness to those incidents. He absolves himself of imperfections in a manner that makes him super human. If there are blames, they belong to others.

His account of the death of General Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, was not only insulting to all that knew the former Head of State, but to the Nigerian Army, and the espirit de corps it once had. How could an officer charged with protecting the Head of State be so dismissive of his role in his death?

There could be reasons for this. Lt-General Danjuma passed the most uncomplimentary remarks on General Ironsi in that interview. His words are too insulting to be repeated here. Whatever he had against Ironsi, the man was killed 42 years ago. He deserves his rest. Why the repeated insults?

How did Ironsi’s six months as supreme commander disturb the development of Nigeria, to have caused the Danjumas of this nation, so much displeasure long after his death? Whatever happened to the respect we traditionally accord the dead?

General Ironsi earned some of his numerous honours for leadership and bravery as commander of the United Nations forces in Katanga, Congo. Even if Nigeria of the Danjuma hue refuses to recognise him, those indelible marks remain.

Lt-General Danjuma in his sagacity made two mistakes that he belatedly admitted. He claimed that he did not know General Olusegun Obasanjo well enough in 1976 when he supported his rise to leadership of Nigeria. However, in 1999, when he swore he would go on exile if Obasanjo was not elected president, he sounded as if he knew Obasanjo as the best person for the job.

General Obasanjo won, Danjuma got his reward as Minister of Defence and all was well until class disagreements saw him out of his plum office. Ever since, he has added Obasanjo to his hate list. Again, such a high-ranking official of the Obasanjo government had no hand in its ills.

We are however astounded that an elder can descend to the divisive end he did in the interview that has recreated the injuries of the civil war, distorted the healings of the past 38 years and positioned his jaundiced views among those to be considered.

Danjuma still has a slim chance to recant whenever he writes his promised memoirs