Nigerian Uniform Men/Institution-What a Shame!
|
|
By Ijomor Ifeanyi
.
|
|
Man they say
is a product of his environment. People that inhabit it constantly are into
shaping the environment to become more inhabitable by what they say and do. The
environment is a dynamic phenomenon in that it keeps changing either for good or
for the worse, depending on impact. If the impact is positive, growth emanates
and the reverse is true. It also follows the notable adage “As you make your
bed, so you lie on it” becomes applicable in this context.
Examining the environment as it relates to the Nigerian Uniform Institution in
the likes of the Army, Navy, Air force and the Nigerian Police, the only thing
that kept coming up in my thought is “What a Shame”, “What a Disgrace”, they are
to our developmental efforts.
Hearing the name Nigeria as the giants of Africa would suggest that things are
forward moving as against the general notion that Africa is yet still in the
dark ages.
Albeit! It is in the contrary. These institutions were originally set up to
defend and protect the territorial integrity of the Nation and also to
ameliorate crime incidences in the country. If this is what they stand for, are
they really delivering?
The Niger Delta has become a big scare in their face, the various armed bandits
are continually raging, and the area boys are perpetually making mince meat of
neighborhoods. Lives are at their mercy. The uniform men cannot come to their
rescue. What an institution!
Where did the Uniform men fit in? I am beginning to question their orientation
and subsequently their education. Do they really teach and train them after
being recruited? Who for God sake are their teachers? What are their
reputations? If a student after being taught and could not deliver, it is not
out of place to blame either the teacher or the student. A student that fails
definitely should not progress to the next level and best still be withdrawn. A
teacher on the other hand can be asked to make improvements, demoted or
out-rightly fired.
Does the above paragraph fit into our puzzle as a nation? I think so. If an
officer that had being schooled, and having a rank that befits a supervisor can
empty his rounds in the skull of an “Okada” man not in a battle field but in a
civilian entity when his life is not threatened, then his teachers and the
institutions that made him an officer has utterly failed. The question is, what
happened to the officer and his teachers? I haven’t heard about it since then.
Of course why should anybody think of it at all, or seek justice? The insane
uniform men of that nation has being taught that all civilians are “Bloody
Civilians” and they can always be left in the pool of blood without any further
ado. A thing of pride to them I suggest.
Trying to rationalize the mindset of our uniform men reminds me of the fight
that Afro-bit King (Fela Kuti) fought against the ”ZOMBIES”, “UNKNOWN SOLDIERS”
of his time. I guess they are still what they are. The many socialization of the
heads and creams of the Uniform Service with other advance nations during
seminars, oversea trips, excursions, training programs, appears to be a waste of
taxpayers’ money. Nothing good was learnt that would positively have impacted
our environment.
We as a nation should pause and ponder over the activities of these institutions
versus the many innocent lives that have being killed, oppressed and maimed by
them vis-à-vis the combats waged against the criminal empire. We obviously have
a negative result.
Is it that our nations uniform men lacks knowledge, wisdom and understanding or
like they would say we have them but are only obeying orders? Who is giving
these orders? Can’t they be fished out to face the music and punishment for
their heinous crimes?
On behalf of the nation, I am appealing to President Yaradua to make them
realize that the territorial integrity of the nation as ugly as it is now, would
more be at stake if innocent lives are continually taken by these bunch of
uneducated and ill-willed uniform men. Also if the nation has to move forward,
every erring uniform men should be brought to book for every wrongdoing. I leave
the commensurate punishment for the judiciary to adjudicate.
Finally, I like to believe that all these will be a thing of the past, in no
distant time and our uniform men will be a product of a better and well-informed
environment and not what it is today.
Ijomor Ifeanyi
Maryland.
|
|
