When Generals gathered for golden jubilee

An English adage says Birds of a feather flock together. So it was recently when former officers, who joined the military as young men decades ago got together again to advocate unity for the country amidst cry for the division. Muhammad Sabiu reports. 

FIFTY years ago, precisely September 3, 1967, a group of  forty-five young men, from every nook and cranny of the country  met at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, to begin a career in the military. An adage says: twenty children cannot play together for twenty years; therefore, today, only twenty-eight of them are still alive.

To relive memories of the good old days, ‘the survivors’ came together recently under the auspices of the Nigerian Defence Academy 3rd Regular Course Alumni Association to promote unity among themselves and by extension Nigeria.

Indeed, the choice of Kaduna to celebrate their 50th anniversary was not a coincidence, it was strategic.  Kaduna being the former capital of the Northern region still plays that role as the melting point of all interest groups in the region. For example, till today the meeting of the Northern states Governors Forum still holds in Kaduna. So also are the meetings of the Northern Traditional rulers and religious groups like the Jama›atul Nasurul Islam (JNI).

Indeed, in the 57 years of nationhood, the country has passed through some trying moments like the January 1966 military coup that claimed the lives of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the then Premier of the Northern region as well as the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Other casualties were top military brass like late Colonel Kur Mohammed, Brigadier Zakari Maimalari, among others.

Also, the counter-coup that followed the January 1966 coup overthrew the then Head of State, General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi and claimed his life including those of some military officers. In the same vein, the attempt to secede by Biafra led to the Nigerian civil war during which over two million Nigerians lost their lives.

Interestingly, current events such as the agitations of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East and the agitations for restructuring, were not different from the issues in the country’s public domain about 50 years ago which like today are rocking the foundation of the country’s unity.

It was against this backdrop that the retired Generals met on the 24th September, 2017 in Kaduna to observe the 50th anniversary of their association as well as to have a sober reflection on the happenings in the country, with the view to offering their own contributions on the way forward.

The anniversary lecture entitled “The role of the military in a democracy,” was delivered by Colonel Paul Ogbebor, a former commanding officer 3rd Signal Regiment of the Nigerian Army. In the lecture, the retired army officer advocated continuous training of the armed forces in line with global trend in order to be able to protect the nation. He also argued that the military institution is the only institution better positioned to nurture the country’s fragile democracy.

He implored politicians to abide by the rules and avoid heating up the polity for their selfish interests. According to him, for 16 years the military has tolerated the misadventures of successive civilian regimes in the country, saying, this is because the institution has been restructured to operate within democratic ideals and norms.

Also, chairman on the occasion and Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal praised the military for their role in keeping the country together.

“As a nation we are lucky to have the class of 67 with us today (even) as we grapple with extreme elements in our midst who have chosen to forget the huge sacrifice you all made to keep this nation one,” Tambuwal said while lauding the military for their tireless efforts in fighting insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country. He added that the military has done a lot in uniting the country, urging them to continue to do so.

In his own remarks, the chairman of the alumni association, Brigadier-General David Mark on his part, disclosed that the association was incorporated in 2008, though it started operating in 2011 following the retirement of all the members of the course.

According to him, the essence of the association was not only to foster unity amongst the 3rd regular course mates of 1967 but also to chart a way forward against the mirage of problems confronting the country.

Commenting further, the former Senate president remarked that as ex- military officers, “We promise to be patriotic and continue to put the love of the country above us,” stating that out of the 45 of them who met at NDA some fifty years ago, only 28 are still alive.

Mark also said members of the course were privileged to hold very important appointments during their military career. A breakdown of the positions shows that the group has produced three service chiefs; nine state governors; 4 ministers; senate president; 2 senators; one Chief of General Staff (vice president); 13 defence advisers and eight General Officers Commanding (GOC) positions.  He also did not forget to pay glowing tributes to the 17 members of the course who had passed away.

The former senate president also called on politicians to learn to accept defeat so that the country would move forward. Said he: “We have just had our election. And I assure you there would not be any bickering from any one. Nobody will complain even if they are not happy and nobody will challenge the outcome in any court. I think our politicians should learn from us.”

Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-rufai who also spoke at the event disclosed that he was proud of the role that Kaduna has played in bringing the together. He charged them to resuscitate the spirit of brotherhood that once made Nigeria such a place of harmonious possibilities.

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar who was the special guest of honour at the golden jubilee dinner, told the retired military officers that in or out of office, they must make security, unity and peace of Nigeria the cornerstone of all their endeavours.

He noted that Nigerians generally, have made enough sacrifice in the past to keep the nation as one saying: “Whatever needs to be done to ensure peace, good neighborliness, unity, equity and justice to all must be done.”

Also speaking, the Chief of Defense Staff, General A.G. Olonisakin noted the contributions of the ex-military officers in keeping the country one. He said, “The 3rd Regular Course has produced some of the greatest military minds and statesmen of modern Nigeria most of whom have also mentored successive generations of brilliant officers.

“It is on record that the services and sacrifices of this group of highly revered and very senior officers of this course during the Nigerian civil war contributed in no small measure to keeping the nation one.”

Highlights of the occasion were performance by the Kaduna state cultural troupe, roll call of 3rd regular course members as well as presentations of awards to deserving ex-military officers and other eminent personalities.

Among other dignitaries that graced the occasion were the Commandant of Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Major General, MT Ibrahim; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Bruratai and former COAS, General Alwali Kazir. General Victor Malu (now late) was represented by his wife.

Others were Major General Paul Tarfa, Major General Chris Garuba, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Major General Timothy Shelpidi, Major General Saad Suleiman, Air Vice Marshall Babatunde Osibo and Major General Mufutau Balogun.