Chief Dr Patrick Osagie Eholor has come hard on the Nigerian system, heavily criticising the Nigeria Army and the way generals are hired and fired by successive governments.
He has also frowned at the wilful promotion of so many officers to the rank of general at the same, arguing that despite the numerous generals in the Army, the Nigerian Army of the past was far more efficient that what we have now. He also cited the fact that former Heads of State were just Major Generals and held the positions for a long while before being elevated to general.
He said “We are going to talk about the Nigerian Army today and the reckless way officers are promoted to the rank of general. I have found out that it’s only in Nigeria that there are so many generals. In the era of Collin Powell, America had only three generals. Russia today has one of the biggest Army, yet, go and count the number of generals they have. Go to China, you can count their generals.
When I was growing up, you hardly see an army general. When you see one, you know you have seen a general who can deliver.
I was not surprised when Asari Dokubo came out on national tv boasting in Aso Rock, with the national flag that he and his men were controlling six states.
Recently, General Lucky Irabor from Delta State was retired. I don’t know what Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is afraid of. Mr president,why are you giving them four SUVs each, with about 36 domestic helpers, and other serious package? I am not saying the military doesn’t deserve something but every military deserve something, not just the high ranking one. Mr president should explain to us why he should reward these men, and not give same privileges.
Why can’t those who are in Sambisa forest and those at the fronts dying not be given similar benefits? I condemn that. We must balance it, those who came before, and those serving now should be given appropriate rewards because they have been put their lives on the line. People have to learn that you cannot bring politics into the military or the police.
It’s only in this country that you have so many police commissioners who have no offices. I have lived in Canada for so many years and in Ontario, we had only one commonwealth. In UK, they have only one CP. Over six years, only him. W must get things right. It’s only in Nigeria that you have generals everywhere. This is very strange, knowing the Army we grew up under. Ibrahim Babangida was not even a generals when he became head of state and held the rank of Major General for long. Mamman Vatsa, Abacha, and a lot of others were all like that. They were not anxious to take ranks,but were anxious to strengthen the military, to protect and secure our borders, and to ensure that Nigerians were safe.
We should also stop retiring generals wth flimsy excuses because you want to promote junior officers above them. What about the money spent in training them?
Today, we have so many generals without the experience of generals,and we have too many Commissioners of Police without offices.
The United States Army has 17 active generals
The Russian Army has 4 generals
The highest rank in the German Army is the lieutenant general and they have only one.
The General is the highest ranking officer in the British Army. They have 3 generals.
In India, only the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff are Generals. Just 2!
China has just 6 serving Army generals
Senior Advocate for the Masses (SAM)
Chief Dr Patrick Osagie Eholor.
President One Love Foundation Otherwise Known As Ultimate Equals.