DHQ attacks on Obasanjo, rude –Ex-generals

Some retired senior military officers have lashed
out at the Defence Headquarters for describing
former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an
embarrassment to the military institution.
The Defence Headquarters in a remark on its
Facebook page on Monday had accused the
former President of politicising serious national
security and military issues.
The military authorities were reacting to a
statement credited to the former President that the
general elections were postponed to enable
President Goodluck Jonathan to use the Service
Chiefs for tenure extension in an electronic mail
on Monday.
But a former Chief of Army Staff , Gen. Alani
Akinrinade (retd.),in a telephone interview with
our correspondent, condemned the military
authorities over the comments.
Akinrinade said Obasanjo was exercising his
political rights, adding that it was absurd for a
junior officer to say anything against his
superiors.
The ex-general said, “Obasanjo has exercised his
political rights. I think his joining politics is what
is causing this nonsense. What is the business of
the Defence Headquarters in politics anyway? How
did they get to the point where they are reading
political statement by politicians. They are now
reacting to it. Obasanjo didn’t abuse the armed
forces. He must have his reasons for what he
said. It is a very bad idea for a junior officer to
come out in the public and chastise an ex-
commander-in-chief.”
Also, a former Director of Army Legal Services,
Col. Akin Kejawa (retd.), described the comments
against Obasanjo as being the product of “the
indiscipline that the military has degenerated
into.”
Kejawa, cautioned the military authorities, saying
the reaction betrayed the tenets of respect and
discipline that the army was noted for.
According to him, the comments made mockery of
the army.
He said, “It is unethical. They should know how to
respect elders. I have read the report this morning
and don’t think that is good. It is very
disrespectful. He was a former head of state and
he should be accorded due respect, no matter
what he has said.
“This is what we are calling indiscipline in the
military. A commander is doing something; you
cannot come out and start condemning him. In
the military, we don’t do things like that. That is
my own personal view and as a lawyer with
experience in military law, that is not proper. Can
somebody call his father a stupid person? No
matter what mistake he has made, you can’t
dishonour him.”
When contacted, the first Military Administrator of
Osun State, Maj. Gen. Leo Ajiborisa (retd.),
declined to comment on the matter because it
was against military etiquette to speak about his
superiors.
He said, “I don’t discuss political issue. It is
insubordination for anybody to write about his
senior. Military etiquette does not teach us that
way, so I am not interested in pronouncing
anything. I am not a politician; they can go and
sort their matter.”
When contacted for his comment, retired Maj.
Gen. Zamani Lekwot, said he should be given
time to mourn his younger brother’s wife, who he
said, just died on Tuesday morning.