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Tribute To The Nigerian Military By Max Gbanite
Historically the origin of the Nigerian Military could be traced as far back as 1863, when Lt. Glover of the Royal Navy selected 18 indigenes from the Northern part of the country and organized them into a local force, known as the “Glover Hausas.” In 1865, the “Glover Hausas” became a regular force with the name “Hausa Constabulary”. It performed both Police and Military duties for the Lagos colonial government. It later became “Lagos Constabulary”, and on incorporations of West African Frontier Force (WAFF) in 1901, it became “Lagos Battalion”. In addition to this force, the British Government included the Royal Niger Company (RNC), Constabulary Force in Northern Nigeria in 1886 and the Oil Rivers irregular in 1891. In 1889, Lord Fredrick Lugard formed what was to be known in 1890 as the West African Frontier Force, (WAFF), in Jebba, Northern Nigeria. By 1901, it had incorporated all paramilitary units in the other British dependencies into its command, thus fully meriting its designation “WAFF.” This led to the merger of all units into regiment in each of the dependencies; this produced the Northern Nigeria Regiment and Southern Nigerian Regiment. The two regiments were later used for expeditions during the annexation of Nigeria by Lord Lugard between 1901 and 1903. The amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, gave birth to the unification of both regiments, and gave birth to the name “Nigerian regiments.” With the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth between 28 January and 15 February, 1956, the Nigerian regiment was renamed Queens Own Nigerian Regiment (QONR). In the same year, the regionalization of the WAFF came into existence and each military unit became independent of the other. As a result, the QONR became the Nigerian Military Force (NMF). In 1958, the British Army Council relinquished control of NMF to the Nigerian Government. In 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the NMF became known as the Royal Nigerian Army (RNA). When Nigeria became a republic, the RNA changed to the Nigerian Army. (Source: The Nigerian Army History from the Education Unit of the Army) The Nigeria Military is a combination of three basic arms; the Army, Navy and the Air Force otherwise known as the armed forces of Nigeria. It is the executive part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria charged with the defence of the territorial integrity of the country with enabling powers drawn from the constitution. Section 217 of the Nigerian Constitution states “There shall be an armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an army, a navy, the air force and such other branches of the armed forces of the Federation that may be established by an act of the National Assembly”. Structurally, the President of the country at any point in time is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces by reason of the executive presidential system of government we operate. The Nigerian Army (NA) is the land branch of the armed forces. It is the largest of the armed forces, and its major formation include; the 1st Division, the 2nd Division and the 3rd Armoured Division, 81st Diivision, 82nd Division and the 7th Division. The Nigerian Navy (NN) is the sea arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The Navy has three operational commands in Lagos, Calabar and Bayelsa. The national headquarters of the Navy is at Abuja. Established in 1964, the Nigerian Air Force is the air capability arm of the armed forces. It has a military school in Jos, Plateau State, and a tactical command in Markurdi, Benue State.
Since its inception, the Nigerian military has fought in the first and second world wars as support units to the British Army. In 1967-1970 they acquitted itself during the Civil War otherwise known as the Biafran War.
The Nigerian Military has participated in several if not all peace-support efforts in troubled parts of the world under the auspices of the United Nations; and is the backbone of the Economic Community of West African States force, code named ECOMOG. It acted as the main trajectory force supported by other West African forces in ending the hostilities in Liberia and Sierra Leone (1985-1999). The Nigerian Military is one of the best ranked (in terms of structural and tactical discipline) armed forces in the world. On the international scene, they have performed creditably.
Although the military has been involved in a series of interregnums or adventures in politics through brute force, they have remained a highly professional establishment subsumed in civil leadership, and controlled by their enabling powers from the constitution. This unbroken chain of professional military in a democratic dispensation for well over fifteen years is indeed a great feat and should be applauded.
The establishment of function-specific institutions such as the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy, a professional military training school with the capacities of a full-fledged university (NDA), the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which recently established a Defence Intelligence University in collaboration with Israel to train all intelligence units within the armed forces, civilians, and para-military agencies in the country, and other African States. The Command and Staff College, Jaji, Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru-Jos, where a combined force of our military, and civilian administrators are tutored on various aspects of leadership-strategies. Office of the National Security Adviser, to mention but a few, are giant strides achieved by the military over the years that must not go unnoticed.
The effective and efficient policing of our territorial boundaries, inland waterways and our territorial waters are worthy of note. By these acts, effective securitization of the entire geographical space called Nigeria is assured. The Military has a good radar and other satellite imaging systems deployed to achieve all these.
The establishment of the Joint Task Force (a fantastic fusion of our military, as they are so delicately tangled in a complex array of operations) in the Niger Delta code named “Operation Restore Hope” with headquarters in Yenagoa, to protect our refineries and curb illegal oil bunkering, was another timely and effective engagement which should be applauded.
Oil theft, illegal oil bunkering and establishment of illegal refineries are commonplace anomalies in the Niger Delta. This has drastically affected the total number of barrels of crude the nation produces daily (bpd). With the establishment of the Joint Task Force, there has been an appreciable improvement in oil production leading to the availability of the much needed petrodollar necessary for the prosecution or execution of our national budget and other development planning efforts. The quelling of the Odi uprising and Zarki biam, though unfortunate, remains part of internal responsibility of our military; once the President, and Commander in Chief gives the order. But the same military are always blamed by the civilians who forgot that once orders are given by the president, it must be obeyed to the fullest.
One wonders where Nigeria will be today if our military had not stood up to their responsibilities to tackle the dreaded Boko Haram sect; a jihadist group with a violent misinterpretation of Islam that aspires to overrun the country and establish a regime of terror.
The military have fought this sect to a standstill, and liberated all seized territories. Although the architecture of the war has returned to asymmetry, and suicide bombings, that, too, will be degraded. Contrary to accusations of human rights violations by Amnesty International, the military exercised a high degree of professionalism in handling the terrorists especially those captured at the battle fields. Our military is non ethnic, non religious and non political, and this instilled mindset has helped them in the conduct of their business.
Their commitment to a united Nigeria is probably why the politicians looks up to them when choosing a presidential candidates. In 1999 when democracy returned, the political class in People Democratic Party (PDP) who are in the majority, allowed four retired generals to convince them to adopt an old horse, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd.), who was once a former Head of State, and military dictator (1976-1979) as the party’s presidential candidate; they did, and he eventually won the general election for them, but killed democracy.
Again during the last election the leader of the then opposition party All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu, at every rally, and in his bid to convince voters to vote for his party’s presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.), another former Head of State, and military dictator (1983-1985), said that, “when Britain was in trouble they called upon Sir Winston Churchill to save her, he was elected Prime Minister; when America was in trouble they called Gen. Ike Eisenhower (Rtd.) to save her, he was elected President; and when France was in trouble they called Gen. Charles DeGaulle (Rtd.) to save her, he was elected President; therefore, Nigeria is in trouble under PDP, and needs a General in the person of Buhari to save her.” Buhari won the election for the party. The political leaders of APC knew quite well that without a military leader like Gen. Buhari, they will never come close to winning the presidential election of 2015.
Well, many may not agree with Bola Tinubu, but he spoke the truth. Our military are very unique, dynamic, and special. They are more nationalistic in thinking, and always have the interest of the nation at heart. They deserve to be commended, saluted by all, respected, and supported. They are awake protecting the nation while the civilians are asleep. I urge members of the National Assembly to commit January 15th of every year as a national holiday to honor all our dead heroes, and wounded warriors who participated in the second world war, civil-war, in Liberia and Sierra Leone, in all Internal conflicts, and peace-support operations.
I also urge the President to devote this year’s national honor’s award to the members of our armed forces; dead, wounded, and alive as a mark of respect, recognition, and tribute to them for always being there to defend the integrity of our nation no matter what time of the day, week, month or year.
I salute you all members of our military, may Almighty God continue to protect you, and grant those who laid their lives so that we can live eternal peace. Long Live Our Armed forces, long live Nigeria. Max Gbanite International Counter Terrorist Expert Executive Chairman Maximus-The Research & Analysis Center (a Defence & Security Analysis group). |