Army chief laments military intervention in governance

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihezirika, on Monday criticised the military for venturing into governance in the country.
The Army chief restated Nigerian Army’s loyalty to President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and support for democratic governance.
Ihejirika said even the military, especially the Army, suffered during the long period of military rule.
He said this during the inauguration of some core projects of the Army by the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed, in Abuja on Monday.
The COAS said the leadership of the Army during military rule embarked on a policy to discourage the training of soldiers because of the pervasive incidence of lack of trust.
He lamented that the Army did not accord the expected level of importance to the issue of the welfare of soldiers.


Ihejirika recalled that Armoured Personnel Carriers were abandoned to rot away because of the fear that they could be used against the government of the day.
He said the situation was such that it was impossible for a Commanding Officer to warm or move an armoured vehicle without authorisation from the Army Headquarters.
He said troops wore tattered uniforms to operations without receiving deserved allowances.
However, the army chiefs said efforts were made to transform the Army at the inception of democratic governance in 1999.
Ihejirika said, “The dilapidation in infrastructure and equipment which has been commented upon recently in the press was brought about by the unfortunate long period of military involvement in governance in this country. Efforts to transform the Army commenced with the return to democracy in 1999.
“For those who do not know or may have chosen to forget, serious attention was never paid to welfare, while the Army hardly trained during the dark era of military dictatorship due to mutual distrust.”
Bello, who inaugurated the projects, commended the soldiers for their dedication and conduct in the fight against terrorism in the country.

PUNCH NEWSPAPER