To reverse the backward march

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