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Albright soon in Nigeria (Total-Elf



Subject: Albright soon in Nigeria (Total-Elf) Guardian Nig editorial on Nigerian Army In Niger delta

MOSOP International Secretariat wrote:
> 
> Given that Madeline Allbright is currently due in Nigeria those of you
> in a position to engage with policy makers in the US may want to urge
> them to ensure that Ms Allbright makes it clear that the United States
> will not support a militay response to the crisis in the Niger Delta.
> 
> Warm regards
> 
> Chris Newsom
> 
> From the Guardian, Nigeria
> 
> [As many of you will be aware -the Guardian is Nigeria's leading daily
> newspaper.]
> 
> 
> Editorial
> 
> >Monday, 18 October 1999
> >
> >Not yet an ethnic army
> >
> >THE return to democracy has brought with it a redefinition of
> >responsibilities for the institutions of the state. Ministers are
> expected
> >to assume the role of policy formulation and execution. On matter
> concerning
> >the armed forces and bordering on the defence and territorial
> integrity of
> >the nation, for instance it is the Minister of Defence who should
> make a
> >statement. On some occasions it may be necessary too for the
> President who
> >is also commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces to speak on
> such
> >matters.
> >
> >Judging by some of his recent public pronouncements, it would appear
> that
> >the Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Victor Malu does not yet fully
> appreciate
> >these fine points. When he addressed some officers in Jos the other
> day, he
> >told them to be prepared to shoot "at sight" any soldier who
> announces a
> >coup d'etat on radio. He reasoned that any soldier who attempts this
> feat
> >will be carrying out a professional duty. The General was probably
> employing
> >the verbal weapon of hyperbole to underscore the point about the
> illegality
> >of using unconstitutional means to unseat an elected government.
> >Unfortunately, his manner of speaking tended to point attention to
> the
> >spectre of fear rather than the effect of deterence which he hoped to
> >achieve. This is one possible misinterpretation that could arise from
> >political comments by senior military personnel. That is why a better
> path
> >of valour in all such circumstances is to exercise the discretion of
> >caution.
> >
> >A politically weightier statement by the Chief of Army Staff concerns
> the
> >intended mass transfer of military personnel of Niger Delta origin
> from
> >formations based in the region. He said he was redeploying these
> troops in
> >the two units based in Port Harcourt and Warri because, according to
> him,
> >"some were found to be part of the problem in the Niger Delta." It
> does no
> >good to the image of the army for soldiers to become partisan in
> conflicts
> >in which they are involved as peace-keepers. In this regard, Gen.
> Malu's
> >warning is both apt and timely, for as he told the troops, "when you
> are in
> >any operation, you are not representing your tribe but Nigeria." This
> should
> >be a sacred code of military conduct and when it is violated,
> >professionalism and discipline suffer. There are established ways of
> dealing
> >with such instances of deviance. Each case should be investigated and
> >treated in accordance with disciplinary procedure.
> >
> >But the decision to redeploy the troops of Niger Delta origin is
> based on
> >their ethnic identity, not on verified misconduct of each personnel.
> This
> >line of action may rhyme with the temperament of the military, but it
> >violates the cherished principle of fairness and justice which
> applies,
> >also, to Nigerians in the armed forces. The proposed measure also has
> >political implications for the armed forces and the country. First,
> it
> could
> >produce the unintended effect of stigmatising all officers and men
> from the
> >area for partisanship in the conflicts. That will be a grave
> indictment
> >which will not help in sustaining loyalty.
> >
> >Talent and skill, not ethnic affinity, were the criteria applied in
> posting
> >these personnel to the units in question. If the logic of "ethnic
> sympathy"
> >is pushed to its absurd terminus it could mean that whenever a
> conflict
> >occurs which warrants military involvement, the deployment of troops
> will
> be
> >based on their status a non-indigenes of the area in question. When
> this
> >happens, what we shall have will not be a Nigerian army but an
> "ethnic army
> >of occupation." The consequences will be dire for our federation.
> >
> >Second, the indiscriminate redeployment could create the fear that
> the
> >government is about to intensify military action in the region and,
> >therefore, needs "ethnic foreigners" to achieve the objective in a
> more
> >ruthless and decisive manner. Such an option should not be
> contemplated
> >because it will not contribute to a peaceful and just resolution of
> the
> >conflicts in the oil-producing states. Since the inauguration of the
> >civilian administration in May, there have been high expectations, at
> home
> >and abroad, that dialogue and negotiation will be preferred in
> tackling the
> >issues. Dialogue and negotiation do not require the policy of "ethnic
> >cleansing" in military units operating in the area. Third, the armed
> forces
> >and the police have always been perceived as trans-ethnic and
> unifying
> >institutions. Even in moments of social turmoil and political
> upheaval, the
> >armed forces have remained multi-ethnic in composition but united in
> their
> >commitment to the defence of the country. It will be a sad day,
> indeed,
> when
> >loyalty and professional competence in the armed forces are assessed
> through
> >the prism of ethnicity. As a fine soldier who has done much to uplift
> the
> >peace-making profile of Nigeria, Gen. Malu should not do anything
> that may
> >suggest that we are heading in that direction.
> >
> >