Editor’s Note: In an impassioned argument in defence of the Nigerian army and its chief Gen. Tukur Buratai, Ebuka Mbakwe Jnr justifies the general’s actions during the Zaria clashes and in no uncertain terms slams the Shiites and their supporters.
Of the Nigerian Army in War and Masked Puppetry
By Ebuka Mbakwe Jnr
Nigerians are very dexterous in self-destruction. They elevate and cherish retrogression, sometimes, to limits that sane minds, elsewhere, can only ascribe to lunatics on rampage. Some members of the supposed Nigerian intelligentsia, who should be the beacons of illumination, unfortunately, clad themselves in crabs for its sake. This has exposed the national afflictive tragedy in worse terms and questions patriotism within.
Before a Nigerian Presidency of Gen. Muhammedu Buhari’s ilk, no Nigerian ever thought there still existed within the military top brass, an army general who could dangle the sword high up the skies against the insurrectionist group of Islamic extremists widely tagged as Boko Haram.
But once Buhari, a man famed for uprightness and his independent inquest into the records of his appointees, fished out Gen. Tukur Buratai and garbed him with the coat of COAS, the drumbeats inside of Boko Haram’s graveyards changed automatically.
Today, it is street testimony that the army under Buratai has drastically caged the insurgents and made unimaginable progress in completely annihilating the terror group, as evident in the captured, but reclaimed territories under Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The gradual return of displaced persons to their ancestral abodes and the amplified confidence of Nigerians to freely work and walk the streets of big cities in the North, without the phobia of Boko Haram attacks anymore are big pluses. No happiness can be more refreshing and fulfilling.
General Buratai remains a controversial figure despite his successes against Boko Haram
More to it, the United States of America (US), the global security watchdogs, which is critical of actions of nations of the world, especially as it impinges on human rights abuses, gave the Buhari Presidency credit mark over its fight on terrorism in the country. US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry recently passed this verdict on Nigeria.
No country in the whole of black Africa, (if not beyond) has received this treasured acknowledgment from the super world power over its feats on terrorism before now.
While the euphoria resonates, some Nigerians were whole-heartedly sad with the development. And presumably, those who benefitted in many invisible ways as the Boko Haram war raged, with the triumph of insurgents over the Nigerian state in the past, have contrived fresh plots to discredit Buratai, the chief armour bearer of this war.
The campaign is designed to dampen his spirit to move harder against insurgents and to eventually diminish his accomplishments applauded by the generality of Nigerians and the international community.
All manner of masked agents have been contracted to commence media trial of this venerated army general who has proved in words and deeds, full knowledge of his briefs on the terror war. And he has so far, walked the path to success without bruises on national or international psyche.
READ ALSO: Nigerian army invents device against Boko Haram IEDs
But still, there is one of the series of crabs in the media about the Nigerian Army and Buratai in particular, supposedly authored by a supposed Nigerian (because the name suggests) identified as Dr. Brimah Peregrino, probably a pen-name, but based in Benin Republic university. The nitty-gritty of the writer’s pains is about the Shiites Islamic sect clash with Nigerian soldiers’ nay the COAS in Zaria, Kaduna state, December 2015.
Also, the alleged army invasion of the residence of the leader of the Shiites sect in Nigeria, Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky were the source of annoyance of the Benionese Peregrino and his sponsors.
But Peregrino accused Gen. Buratai of “atrocities and grave crimes against humanity committed by the army under his direct command in the days of December 12th to the 14th of 2015.” To reveal his mindset, this doctor (whether of philosophy or medicine) outrightly solicited for the sacking of Buratai, but derisively and suspiciously failed to call for the trial of the soldier-accomplice who purportedly assisted Buratai commit “the crime against humanity.”
It is admissible that the incident was really unfortunate hence human lives were needlessly lost. Sympathy goes to the families of the affected in the warmest of passions for the fate that befell them. But the manner of the Shiites clash with soldiers only subscribes to the anarchic nature some Nigerians and supposed leaders have developed thick skin to the country’s voices of insecurity, regardless of the consequences.
The moral question that beseeches answer is why would a religious sect, in the guise of observing any of its ceremonies, mount a barricade on a public thoroughfare?
Gen. Buratai has faced major criticism for his handling of the Zaria clash which left hundreds dead
Not all, why would its members shun entreaties to open the road from someone as high as the COAS directly trapped in the quicksand? Why would they be on the offensive first in an era the US claimed some international radical Islamic religious sects, including the Shiites world-wide, including Iran have local affiliates in some African countries?
Could the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) by their action, be a replication of the Shiites elsewhere? Some have even allegedly linked Zakzaky’s Shia Muslims with ISIS, as their current clash with security agents is a repeated affair.
Undoubtedly, the Shiites declared war by attempting to assassinate the COAS. Military spokesman, Col. Sani Usman, much as the military Police account of the incident sufficiently revealed the underlying motive inter-alia, “Some Shiites were crawling through tall grass, towards Gen. Tukur Buratai’s vehicle, ‘with the intent to attack the vehicle with (a) petrol bomb,’ while others ‘suddenly resorted to firing gunshots from the direction of the mosque’.”
Yet, a Peregrino, whose identity is even in doubt; whose posturing ascribes more to the many pen-spies and violence-prone pen freaks everywhere in the world and claiming lectureship of a university in Benin Republic elected on himself to determine what is wrong or right in the circumstance of the incident.
His incoherence is a problem, much more, his unintelligible flair for jaundiced logic in arguments with national and international significance. The same writer alleged imaginary soldiers’ blockade of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church congregation, amid other desperate lies. But he sinks further with every falsehood peddled in the media against any public official in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Nigerian army to get better as military gets oil station
So, at a point, one perceives a desperado who seeks to demolish Buratai, by reliving the experience of soldiers who brutally manhandled, Zakzaky and his “captured” wife, Zeenat and son, Suhaila and within the same breath admits that both are alive.
No narration can be so ruefully contradictory from a man who should be a master in his field and whose purview on issues should accord him respect globally. But Zakzaky is alive, hale and hearty, facing his travails having allegedly ordered his followers to violently attack constituted authority.
By Peregrino’s submissions, a human being (Zakzaky) targeted and hit six times by bullets of invading soldiers still survives? Well, he doesn’t know the persons mentioned in his scruffy treatise are still alive, much as he miscued that former COAS, Azubuike Ihejirika in bursts of anger, his troops killed Boko Haram leader, Ibrahim Shekau.
The Boko Haram leader is still alive and begging Buratai for breathing space, which he has declined, but like the typical paid agent, displaying a stomach stuffed with too much food in his mouth and losing focus of his assignment, Peregrino, unconsciously confesses to Buratai’s enviable feat in combating Boko Haram.
It was during one of such official assignments that the Shiites, exploded their cult-like violent guts unknown in Nigeria’s security history. If soldiers had relaxed in self-defence, the Shiites would have killed the COAS and scores of other soldiers on lawful duty and the likes of Peregrino and his cohorts would have proclaimed to the world the incompetence of Nigerian soldiers to even protect their boss.
The Nigerian army has refused to apologise for its role in the Zaria clash
Peragrino’s glowing tribute to Buratai; “While General Buratai’s observing his paid duty to defeat ragtag, jungle hiding, heroin -addicted Boko Haram terrorists is appreciated…..”
So, if Shiites or IMN would have an internal problem with their country and the most scathing remarks are emanating from Iran, no one should be left in doubt about their motive on the day they assailed the COAS convoy, because he was on official duty, which should ordinarily supersede a religious function, except an evil intention is contrived as manifested by the protesting Shiites.
So, for the Shiites group to ignore all legal authorities, (including the ICC where they sued the FGN and Kaduna State Commission of Inquiry) making inquest into their complaints to hire a Peregrino reveals their intentions.
So, when a disordered agent in the Benin Republic writes to promote these pristine interests of his sponsors and feels calling for the sack of Buratai would automatically end the game against Boko Haram, it’s the joke of the century.
Ebuka Mbakwe Jnr is a coordinator for the New Era Coalition and is from Enugu state
This article expresses the authors’ opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com or its editors.
Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@naij.com — drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Naij.com’s step-by-step guide for guest contributors.
We’re ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App.
Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to Naij.com Opinion page!
The post ‘The Shiites should shut up about Zaria, Buratai is saving Nigeria from Boko Haram’ appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
from Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM http://ift.tt/1SZ7fTR
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment