There were indications on Friday, June 10, 2016 that about 200 military officers may have been sacked by the federal government through text messages (SMS) over their alleged loyalty to former President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 general elections.
The affected officers were said to have been carefully selected for backing Jonathan during the last 2015 general election.
Further checks in the military establishment in Abuja, also hinted that military officers who were believed to be loyal to the former national security adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki were also affected in the mass sacking.
The list showed that they were mainly from the South East, South South and a small percentage of them were from the North Central region of the country.
The development which is already causing some ripples in the military, according to political analysts, could cost the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration public goodwill.
Confirming the development on Saturday, a statement by the Nigerian Army read; “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday.
“Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.
“Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.
“Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.
“Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). People should therefore not read this out of context.
“The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times.
“We must applaud and support this laudable and bold initiative by the government”.
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Dr. Benneth Onoh
June 11, 2016 at 9:10 pm
The very fact that the public is being appealed to, not to read the action out of context indicates that something is probably missing in the explanation.
To the best of my knowledge during the 2015 presidential Election, Goodluck Jonathan was the commander in chief of the Nigerian armed forces. How could anybody accuse a military officer of any wrong doing for being loyal to his commander in chief? In fact it is the other way round, meaning that officers who were not loyal to their commander in chief could be accused of sabotage.
If I may ask who among the rest of your remaining officers or the general public is not partisan including you and me? If somebody committed an offence out of partisanship or whatever reason, definitely he should be held accountable, but loyalty alone does not amount to an offence.
I am afraid some hidden agenda similar to the immediate pre-civil war situation is gradually unfolding.
Nigerian Military had never been apolitical or professional as they wanted to portray here.
We should better be careful of our actions.
Francis
June 13, 2016 at 11:08 am
True talk, Dr.