By Eric Teniola
Historic continuity with the past is not a duty, it is only a necessity – Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841-1935).
During the tenure of General Yakubu
Gowon from 1966 to 1975, the two best friends of Nigeria were Emperor
Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1892-1975) “power of the trinity” and Alhaji
Hamani Diori (1916-1989) the first President of the Republic of Niger.
Their frequent visits to Nigeria during that time made them to be
regarded as Nigeria’s best friends. In short, their frequent visits to
Lagos kept the agile Ikeja airport correspondents on their toes. Those
correspondents included Dapo Aderinola now in America, Pastor Jimi
Aderinokun, Rabiu Bako, Godwin Esiri, Tayo Falade, Banji Ojewale, Late
Sesan Ogunro, Emeli Fonwo, Chief Oloyede, Kunle Egbeyemi, James Bello,
Godfrey Odu, Late Kola Adeshina, Kunle Adekoya, Seinde Dagunduro, Toye
Akiode, Demola Osinubi and the present Kabiyesi of Akinale in Ogun
State, Oba Femi Ogunleye among others.
So intense was the friendship that in
1972, a detachment of brigade of guards under Major General Joseph
Nanven Garba (1943-2002) was sent by General Gowon to Niamey, capital of
Niger Republic, that land-locked country, to quell a coup attempt on
Alhaji Hamani Diori. He survived the coup at that time but was
eventually toppled on April 15, 1974 in an army coup led by Lt Col. Seni
Kountche in which Diori’s wife, Aissa was killed.
That General Gowon could send a
detachment of a Nigerian Army, that is the Brigade of Guards to Niger
at that time spoke volumes of the power of the then Nigerian Army.
The Brigade of Guards was formed in
September 1962. It has two battalions: 3 and 26 battalions. The Nigerian
Brigade of Guards is unique in its customs and traditions. It is the
only formation in the Nigerian Army where commissioned officers carry
walking stick as part of their dress regulation. Officers are allowed to
wear web belt in the Mess, an exception (to) the rule in all other
Messes. The Brigade is also one of the few formations in the Nigerian
Army where all ranks fly plums (Green-red in colour). It is customary
for all officers posted to the Brigade to be decorated with its insignia
– walking sticks, lanyards and plums on plums on assumption of duty.
Another unique feature of Guards is a very high level of proficiency in
drills of all types. It has highest level of spirit-de-corps in the
Nigerian Army.
It was established as a special
formation, tasked to provide security for the Head of State as the
highest political office in the country in conjunction with other
security agencies. It mounts other ceremonial duties as may be required
by the office. The Brigade has undergone several changes and
transformation in terms of nomenclature, location and strength. The
successive commanders have, therefore, tried to improve the efficiency
of the Brigade and maintained the vision of its founding fathers. The
Brigade has become the pride of the Nigerian Army; thus, in addition to
its assigned roles, it is seen as an epitome of regimentation in the
Nigerian Army.
In the first four years of its formation
after it was established in 1962, Lt. Col. Wellington U. Bassey, Major
David S. Ogunewe, Captain Mobolaji Johnson, Captain Frank Obioha, Major
Donatus O. Okafor, and Major B. Ochei all had the privilege of leading
it.
Following the appointment of Major
General Garba as a foreign Minister in 1975, the leadership of the
Brigade of Guards fell on Major General Paul Tarfa from Garkinda in the
North-East, whose entire family was wiped out by the Boko Haram
recently.
If the Brigade of Guards could be so
effective years ago, one can imagine the mighty strength of the entire
Nigerian Army years ago. How are the mighty fallen.
The Economic Community of West Africa
Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was formed on May 29, 1981 during the tenure
of President Shehu Shagari. The group is made up of Ghana, Sierra Leone,
The Gambia, Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Fasso, Guinea, Liberia and
others.
Because of the huge strength of the
Nigerian Army then, Nigeria has supplied nine out its 11 field
Commanders. They include Major General Felix Muajakperuo, Major General
Abdul One Muhammed, Major General Timothy Shenpidi, Major General Rufus
Kupolati, Major General Idowu Adetunji Olurin, Major General Victor
Malu, Major General Joshua Dongoyaro, Major General John Inieger and
Major General Isaac Obiakor.
Now the same country that supplied all
these field commanders is at the receiving end. The ugliest aspect of
the war on Boko Haram was when I saw troops sent by President Muhammadu
Issoufou of Niger Republic on BBC to Nigeria in our plight against Boko
Haram. It made me wonder. I am still perplexed. It was as if I was in a
dream. I kept asking myself, is it this same Nigeria?
Just imagine the Niger Republic sending
troops to liberate us from the claws of Boko Haram, a country with a
population of less than 17 million, which is not up to the population of
Lagos State. Same with Chad, another landlocked country with a
population of less than 12 million; and Cameroun too. It’s as if we have
fallen to the bottomless pit. The country we know and proud of, is
falling before our eyes. Certainly, something is wrong with us. We
should be marching forward not backwards. No doubt we have mismanaged
ourselves. We should be the ones liberating and not be the ones being
liberated. We should maintain our status as a regional power with all
our resources, population and effective personnel. Nigerians abroad are
excelling in all their callings and the world is aware, why can’t we
exhibit such brilliance here at home?
In spite of all, I believe the last days
of our republic have not come and the inevitable doom is not around us.
Not at all. The present could redefine us and spring us to action. We
must wake up from our slumber and take up our positions in the committee
of nations. Our case is not truja fuit meaning “troy was; troy is no
more”.
- This Piece was written by Eric Teniola/Guardian, a former director in the presidency
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