TakingITGlobal - Panorama - IS THE MILITARY...

Published on: Feb 27, 2004

Topic:

Type: Opinions

https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2907

Over time, I have listened to the flimsy excuse by Nigerians that say the prolonged stay of the military has hampered development in Nigeria. And our mischievous and dubious leaders have always articulated this reason for their non-performance since 1999. This excuse has become not just irritating but also very annoying owing to the fact that most of the members of military being blamed today are the same people that make up the executive and legislative arms of government. From the presidency, they are the same people that enriched themselves questionably as military men, only to use the stolen monies and resources to come back into power as “Civilian Dictators”.

When one looks at the bulk of people that make up the leadership of this administration, one would also notice that a lot of friends of the military abound here. These are people that would entice and lure the members of the military to come into power for their own selfish gains. Since 1999, the Obasanjo administration has performed woefully and instead of blaming itself for the non-performance, members of his administration would prefer to blame the military that is no longer there for their failure. But let me use this medium to ask them some serious questions:

• Agreed, the military compiled the decrees that are regarded as the present constitution: but is it the military that has being responsible for its non review since 1999?

• Is it also the military that has perpetuated the over-centralization of power, thereby giving the president the impetus to act as a dictator (that he was) or some kind of monarch over time?

• Can the military also be blamed for the diversionary abrogation of the on-shore-off-shore dichotomy bill as against dealing with the inevitable issue of resource control?

• Is it the fault of the military that the present administration rather than engage in ventures to house its citizens, would prefer to spend billions of Naira to house the Queen of England for a day or two?

• Can the military be blamed for the retirement package given to worst-while Assistant General of Police Raphael Ige, who kidnapped the questionable Chris Ngige (the controversial governor of Anambra State), rather than have him sacked without benefit?

• Again, how can one hold the military responsible for the bribery allegation that stopped the impeachment of Obasanjo by the law makers in 2002?

There are many questions that are hanging today concerning the present administration. And they cut across all issues; from insecurity to wastage of public funds. It also ranges from the issue of non-implementation of budgets to the problem of unemployment. The list is endless.

We find our president always gallivanting from one country to another in a bid to luring foreign investors into a country that the protection of lives and property is not guaranteed. At the end of the day, some feeble minds will blame the military for this action.

May I add at this point that the likes of Mungo Park paddled their canoe to the shores of the River Niger all by himself without anybody showing him the way? It is said that “A gold fish has no hiding place”.

The president and his vice- president should put their house in order. They should address pressing issues such as security. This is the only way foreign investors can be attracted.

They should endeavour to disengage from all this unnecessary trips to foreign lands; as these amounts waste taxpayer’s hard earned money. This advice is necessary because in due course the military which is not there will be blamed for this action.

Rather than blame the military for its inefficiency, the present administration should either settle down to serve properly or resign from office.

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by Enefe,
Published on: Feb 27, 2004
Topic:
Type: Opinions
https://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=2907


Over time, I have listened to the flimsy excuse by Nigerians that say the prolonged stay of the military has hampered development in Nigeria. And our mischievous and dubious leaders have always articulated this reason for their non-performance since 1999. This excuse has become not just irritating but also very annoying owing to the fact that most of the members of military being blamed today are the same people that make up the executive and legislative arms of government. From the presidency, they are the same people that enriched themselves questionably as military men, only to use the stolen monies and resources to come back into power as “Civilian Dictators”. When one looks at the bulk of people that make up the leadership of this administration, one would also notice that a lot of friends of the military abound here. These are people that would entice and lure the members of the military to come into power for their own selfish gains. Since 1999, the Obasanjo administration has performed woefully and instead of blaming itself for the non-performance, members of his administration would prefer to blame the military that is no longer there for their failure. But let me use this medium to ask them some serious questions: • Agreed, the military compiled the decrees that are regarded as the present constitution: but is it the military that has being responsible for its non review since 1999? • Is it also the military that has perpetuated the over-centralization of power, thereby giving the president the impetus to act as a dictator (that he was) or some kind of monarch over time? • Can the military also be blamed for the diversionary abrogation of the on-shore-off-shore dichotomy bill as against dealing with the inevitable issue of resource control? • Is it the fault of the military that the present administration rather than engage in ventures to house its citizens, would prefer to spend billions of Naira to house the Queen of England for a day or two? • Can the military be blamed for the retirement package given to worst-while Assistant General of Police Raphael Ige, who kidnapped the questionable Chris Ngige (the controversial governor of Anambra State), rather than have him sacked without benefit? • Again, how can one hold the military responsible for the bribery allegation that stopped the impeachment of Obasanjo by the law makers in 2002? There are many questions that are hanging today concerning the present administration. And they cut across all issues; from insecurity to wastage of public funds. It also ranges from the issue of non-implementation of budgets to the problem of unemployment. The list is endless. We find our president always gallivanting from one country to another in a bid to luring foreign investors into a country that the protection of lives and property is not guaranteed. At the end of the day, some feeble minds will blame the military for this action. May I add at this point that the likes of Mungo Park paddled their canoe to the shores of the River Niger all by himself without anybody showing him the way? It is said that “A gold fish has no hiding place”. The president and his vice- president should put their house in order. They should address pressing issues such as security. This is the only way foreign investors can be attracted. They should endeavour to disengage from all this unnecessary trips to foreign lands; as these amounts waste taxpayer’s hard earned money. This advice is necessary because in due course the military which is not there will be blamed for this action. Rather than blame the military for its inefficiency, the present administration should either settle down to serve properly or resign from office. « return.