Salute to Nigerian Armed Forces and Security Agencies

By

Max Gbanite

 

(Defence & Strategic Security Analyst)

Maxgbanite@yahoo.com

 

This piece was first published in 2006; and is being re-published with some modifications:

 

Albert Schweitzser once said, “Truth has no special time of its own, its hour is now.” He was correct then as he is today.

 

As you celebrate the solemnity of Armed Forces Day or ‘Remembrance Day’ to honour the brave unsung heroes of yesterday, I and many others join you with passion and dedication because those being honoured died while in action at various theaters of war and, at places far and near in defence, honour, and service to our fatherland. Yours is a voluntary profession for the tough-at-heart, not for the feebleminded. Your dedication to our fatherland Nigeria is unmatched by any self-righteous-civilian-politicians because you signed your death warrant the day you voluntarily joined the Force.

 

In your 151 years of existence, you acquitted yourselves; and  even during the First World War your contingent was called ‘Tiv Volunteer Force’ because most of you then were from Tivland located in what is known today as Middle-Belt. Your dedication and willingness to serve in the most un-conducive environment while taking rapid fire from the opposing forces compelled the British colonialists to create the West African Frontier Force in the 1930s to 1940s to enlist people from other parts of Nigeria and West Africa.

 

Your discipline and commitment to the art of war was proven once again during the Second World War when your contingent, despite the inhumane conditions, limited logistical support and a great loss of men, defended and held their position in a fierce battle in Burma before reinforcement came. You were adjudged the best fighting contingent in that theater of war by your British officers.

 

You are highly-ranked and respected by the International community when it comes to deployment of forces in peace-support operations. You were there in the First World War, Second World War, the Congo Belgian War, and currently serving in over 13 nations where conflicts exist but, most importantly, you are “Primus Inter Pares” in the actual duty and operational activity. You came to Liberia and Sierra Leone with a focus: to restore the dignity of man and to bring democracy -- a fete you accomplished though in collaboration with other member nations within the Ecowas/Ecomog contingents; and your loss in personnel and materials compared to none. You lost valuable comrades that politicians don’t even want to know their names nor if they existed; but are quick to point to the success stories and insist on Nigeria getting the credits, yet they never saw the red-flowing-bloods of the almost 2,000 lost in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

 

We remember the wonderful, indefatigable, amiable, and peoples Commander, the late Brigadier-General Maxwell Kobi, who lost his life just to restore democracy in Sierra Leone and in the service to his fatherland. You are currently on tour of duty in Darfur, Kosovo, Bosnia, Middle-East, Somalia, Mali, and whenever or wherever the charter of United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS beckons. You are indeed an amazing group, and we are very proud of your accomplishment.

 

During the avoidable and unfortunate civil war (1967-1970) you acquitted yourselves on both sides. The gallantry exploits displayed on both sides were legendary, and may God never allow this same type of carnage to repeat itself. Funny enough, failure on the part of politicians to do what is right has opened an ugly war in the north-eastern; and other parts of our country. Many of you have died and are still dying; killed senselessly by fellow countrymen who are bent on foisting an unacceptable religious doctrine; but we know with certainty that you shall overcome and keep the nation indissoluble.

 

 

Since the advent of our new democracy, some pusillanimous politicians have at every opportunity vilified your profession; and with impudence, they blame you for all the ills of the nation without evidence to support their vituperations.

 

They fail to admit that their inanities and vagabond programs which are anti people create problems for the polity. It is these same politicians that call upon your services and urge you to defend the Constitution and preserve the integrity of our nation; while seeking VIP protections..

 

Today the same actors and new-breed ethnic-champions are working tirelessly to overheat the polity into ethnic, religious, and regional political conflagration of the past.  What they have sown today has germinated into catastrophe; the black hands amongst them are saying all manner-of-rubbish determined to cause disaffection in your midst. Thank you for not allowing their words to permeate your camaraderie; we remain grateful to you for your gallant services, and efforts to restore hope and support the country on its course towards building a lasting democracy.

 

When you administered the nation, some of you who are retired now were appointed military administrators of states (MILADs); yes, some of you may have stolen, but you did it with the fear of God, yet in collaboration with civilian politicians who taught you the schemes. Even in that madness, none of you had the guts to embezzle the billions we read about today attributed to some of the current ministers and governors or their “Excellencies” -- as they wish to be addressed. These cowards travel in armor-plated vehicles built like military tanks to protect themselves and their families against imaginary enemies they themselves created within their starving constituents, who are deprived of democratic dividends. It is also proper to assume that some of these governors want to live long enough to enjoy their stolen billions. They shout about insecurity in the country on one hand and, on the other, they sponsor ethnic thugs called militias and all manner of hired killers; yet, they fail to provide you with adequate funding and equipment to combat the scourge they created. It is very sad indeed.

 

To the gallant men and women of our Armed Forces (Navy, Air Force, and Army); and other supporting security agencies, I commend you for your discipline, your courage under fire and for taking politicians’ bad-breath insults. To your numerous wives who have become widows, and those beautiful children who have lost their bread-winner, I and a good number of Nigerians (some good and dedicated politicians inclusive) join hands in saluting you for giving the nation your husbands, and father’s for a voluntary, and dedicated service to our fatherland, Africa, and the world.

 

Your diligence is highly appreciated. Please join us in the sustenance of democracy. It is your duty to preserve the Constitution of our fatherland. It is your duty to stop at nothing to prevent any attempt to destroy this great country. You must take up the challenges to crush all operating ethnic militias and terrorists whenever and wherever they may exist in our country. As for the vilification by politicians, kindly ignore their diatribes by taking consolation from the words of P. J. O’Rourke, who said that, “When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.” Herein lays the truth:

 

 

 

We salute you, gentlemen and ladies; we appreciate those who died in foreign lands; we appreciate those killed in Ombatse; we appreciate those who died in North-east of Nigeria; we appreciate those killed in Niger-delta.

 

Long live the Nigerian Armed Forces and security agencies

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.