DHQ Denies Report
DHQ Denies Report of Premature Retirement of
Christian-Military Officers
The Defence Headquarters has noted with dismay a mischievous and
systematic campaign of calumny against the government through
spurious and unfounded allegations of lopsided recruitment,
postings, appointments and retirements of military personnel by the
Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
Specifically, by an obscure online blog owned by one Sola Kuti
which he christened “SK Blog.” The blogger without recourse to any
effort of finding out the truth, accused the Nigerian Army of
systematic retirement of over 200 officers from particular
geo-political zone and religious group in the first quarter 2019
and secret recruitment into the services, without giving further
details. Ordinarily, one should not bother about it because it is
not true and born out of the figment of the writer’s imagination.
However, it is imperative to correct the erroneous impression being
created in the mind of some members of the public.
Therefore, it is important to reiterate that postings,
appointments and retirements in the military are routine activities
and common public knowledge. Every officer, soldier, rating, airman
or woman on commission or enlistment into the Services look forward
to an exciting, adventurous and rewarding career in the Armed
Forces and most importantly knows exactly when he or she is due to
retire. Officers, soldiers, ratings, airmen and women are not only
conscious of this but look forward to it. Personnel often retire
based on age on rank or length of Service. In the event of
approaching retirement, the affected person or persons are given
adequate notice and also prepared for life after Service through
training programmes at either the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, or
Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi. Therefore, it is
irresponsible for anyone to allege that such exercises were
targeted at a particular ethnic group or religion.
Similarly, recruitment and enlistment into the Armed Forces of
Nigeria have always been made known to the public and follows
transparent and well known procedures that are in line with best
practices. We expected the writer to make effort of finding out the
truth before misleading unsuspecting members of the public through
such publication. He should have taken advantage of the various
public affairs departments of the Services to enquire about such
issues. Although we are not mindful of the fact that such write-ups
are sponsored by some obviously unpatriotic and ignorant elements,
it is instructive to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain
the cohesive and bastion of national unity and no amount of
campaign of calumny would change that. Such things are alien and
blasphemous in the military.
More also, the allegation of “unease and disquiet in the
military formation” is not only untrue, but sheer mischief.
The public is implored to please disregard such insinuations as
there are proper career plan and progression in the military,
therefore, there is such thing like premature retirement or
deliberate attempt to cleanse a particular ethnic or religious
group in any of the Services.
ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Colonel
Acting Director Defence Information