Not Military’s Show

THE enthusiasm of all segments of the Nigerian society to keep democracy on a steady keel is appreciated. However, it is out of place for this enthusiasm to be an excuse to invest the military with more authority than is legal.

General Andrew Azazi, the Chief of Defence Staff, was totally out of ken in his recent political statement. His position was in an official statement after the Court of Appeal upheld election of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.


“The Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Owoye Andrew Azazi wants to seize the opportunity to assure Nigerians that the military is solidly behind the President. We have seen the rule of law in action and we will do our best to ensure maintenance of public peace as enshrined in our nation's constitution.


“Let us all join hands to assist the President, Commander-in-Chief in moving the country forward to the lofty heights where we want Nigeria to be,” read the statement Brig-Gen. M. D. Yusuf, Director of Defence Information, signed.


Public expression of solidarity with the President, in the circumstance, with the attendant campaign for him, is a political statement unexpected of the Chief of Defence State, especially as the litigants have indicated they would contest the ruling at the Supreme Court.


His statement is therefore pre-mature. It was also unnecessary, and could only have been made, if at all, after the legal contentions have been finally exhausted. Is General Azazi saying that the military would not be solidly behind another President if the Supreme Court so rules? The military’s loyalty is really to the nation, not to the individual.


Another disturbing aspect of the statement is the indication that the military is pledging to do its best to maintain public peace. It is an aberration for the military to suggest that it would be in-charge of public peace.


The police have that responsibility. The military under Section 217 (a) of the Constitution is to defend Nigeria “from external aggression”. It could be invited, on the orders of the President, to suppress “insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order”. This position is too well known for the Chief of Defence Staff make an issue out of it. Maintenance of public order is a police affair, in the same manner that our politics should be conducted away from the expressed interests of the military.


Where troublemakers are identified, the security agencies know what to do without burdening the public with the information.


Everything should be done to strengthen the ability of the police to take care of civil disturbance in line with its constitutional role. The more we are able to demilitarise our politics and conduct, the more the military would realise its role outside politics.


It is in our collective interest for the likes of General Azazi, who “have seen the rule of law in action”, to help to sustain our democracy without making a show of their role in it