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Salute To Nigerian Armed Forces By Max Gbanite
Jan, 26, 2006
Albert Schweitzsd once said that, “Truth has no special time of its own, its hour is now”. He was correct then as he is today.
As you celebrate the solemness of ‘Armed Forces Day’ or ‘Remembrance Day’… to honour the brave unsung heroes of yesterday, I and many other 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 and not for the feeble minded. Your dedication to our fatherland, Nigeria is unmatched by any self-righteous civilian because you have already signed your death warrant the day you voluntarily joined the Force.
You acquitted yourselves during the First World War when your contingent was called ‘Tiv Volunteer Force’, because most of you then were from the Tiv-land located in what is known today as middle-belt. Your dedication and willingness to serve in the most unconducive environment while taking rapid fire from the opposing forces compelled the British Colonialists to create the West African Frontier Force in the 1930’s to ‘40’s to enlist people from other parts of the nation 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 your position in a fierce battle in Burma before re-enforcement came your way. You were adjudged the best fighting contingent in that theater of war by your British officers.
You are ranked second only to India when it comes to deployment of forces, in Peace Keeping 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 ranked ‘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 bring Democracy. A fete you accomplished (though in collaboration with other member nations within the Ecowas/Ecomog contingent) but your loss in personnel and material compared to none. You lost valuable comrades the politicians don’t want to know their names or if they existed, but are quick to point to the success stories and insist on Nigeria getting the credits, yet they never saw the flowing bloods of the almost 2,000 lost in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
As a mater of fact the wonderful, indefatigable, amiable, and peoples Commander, the late Brig. General Maxwell Kobi lost his life to restore democracy in Sierra Leone and in service to his fatherland. You are currently on tour of duty in Darfur, Kosovo, Bosnia, Middle-East, and whenever, 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 some of you have equally displayed other talents in the art of coup plotting and its execution that, it was even exported to Gambia in 1994. Though, coup plotting was and is still part of your indoctrination, but seasoned officers amongst you must know now that it is a thing of the past, and democracy must and should be allowed to flourish.
Since the advent of our new democracy and the establishment of a quasi-rule-of-law in 1999 and, even most recently, some pusillanimous, yellow-belly politicians who will readily dive under their beds at the mistaken sound of a fire cracker or locally made dane-guns have at every opportunity vilified you profession. In fact, with impudence they blame you for all the ills of the nation without evidence to support their virtupertances.
They fail to admit that their inanities and vagabond programs which are anti people create problems for the polity. It is the same politicians who call upon your services and urge you to defend the Constitution and preserve the integrity of our nation. This was the case in 1965 that resulted in the actions of Jan. 15th, 2006, and was again repeated in July 1966, even the Late Chief MKO Abiola admitted of financing and instigating a coup and Prof. Bolaji Ankinyemi confessed to writing the late Gen. Sani Abaaha, GCON and urging him to take over from Chief Ernest Shoekan, GCFR. I remember Chief Tony Anenih, Paul Unongo and other Dignitaries educating members of the Republican National Institute (RNI) and some selected members of the United States congress, in 1995 on why Nigeria was deserving of General Sani Abacha; how he prevented the nation from distegration.
Today the same actors and new-breed tribalists are working tirelessly to overheat the polity into ethnic, religious, and regional political conflagration of the past and, if what they are sowing today germinates into catastrophe, the black hands amongst them will again call upon your gallant services to restore hope; and steer the country back into democracy. Well, kindly reject them and allow them to stew in their own vomit.
When some of you were appointed Military Administrators of States (MILADS), yes, you may have stolen, but you did it with the fear of God and, in collaboration with the civilian politicians who taught you the schemes. Even in that madness, non 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 against imaginary enemies and their starving constituents who are deprived of democratic dividends. It’s 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; very sad indeed.
Today some unpatriotic members of the House of Representatives want fifty-thousand naira as daily sitting allowance to discuss matters that affects their respective constituencies; matters they were supposedly voted/ selected into office to debate. I can assure you that they will create reasons to hear every matter and issue now, just to keep their pockets bulging. What a shameful and unpatriotic gesture.
Just imagine what would happen to crime, especially armed robberies if you and policemen are paid half that amount for every detail operation you conduct; crime will automatically go down considerably…….sorry for the digression.
To the Gallant Men and Women of our Armed Forces (Navy, Airforce, Army) and supporting security agencies, I commend you for your discipline, your courage under paid fire and for taking politicians bad-breath insults. To the men of 1st,, 2nd , 81st, 82nd, 3rd divisions and other tactical support commands; to the Airforce and Navy; I and a good number of Nigerians (some good and dedicated politicians inclusive) join hands in saluting you for your voluntary, dedicated service to our fatherland, Africa and the world.
Your diligence is highly appreciated and please join us in the sustenance of democracy; it is your duty to preserve the constitution of our fatherland and stop at nothing to prevent any attempt to disintegrate the unity of this great nation; you must take up the challenges to crush all operating ethnic militia 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 what P. J. O’Rourke said, “when buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators”. Herein lies the truth……..they have already sold the truth.
May the right thinking government give us January 15th as a national holiday because that date is indeed memorable in the annals of our nation’s history.
I salute you Gentlemen.
Long live the Nigerian Armed Forces Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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