By Oladimeji Abitogun & Akinwale Fasemore.
Former Nigerian minister of defence, Mr. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma has accused the military of colluding in what he called deliberate
ethnic cleansing being perpetrated across the country.
Mr. Danjuma, a retired lieutenant General who also served as the chief of army staff in the military administration of 1976 to 1979, called on Nigerians to take their destiny in their own hands, declaring that if they thought the military will guarantee safety of lives and properties that such hope would have been misplaced.
Danjuma spoke on Saturday at the convocation ceremony of the Taraba state university, Jalingo .while lunching the endowment fund of five billion naira towards which he contributed one hundred million naira. He was also conferred with an honorary doctor of letters(D.Litt.) The occasion also had in attendance, the executive Governor of Taraba state Darius Ishaku ,who is also the visitor to the university.
According to Danjuma who lunched the Taraba state University endowment fund with a sum of one hundred million naira. He reiterated that each Nigerian will be annihilated if it was expected that the military will effectively defend the life of every citizen.
He rejected the tag of a politician ,saying that if he was one he would not say what he was about to say.”Defend your country ,defend your community ,defend your land” he said. He was not only critical of the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria ,he said he would have preferred Taraba state University to ask him for a more academic related initiative instead of a five billion naira sport arena .
He suggested a more alluring project like “artificial intelligence”.
Billionaire investor, Mr.Tony Elumelu also contributed a sum of 30 million naira towards the fund.
However, the Nigerian military took umbrage at the allegations coming from its former top brass. Saying it was “unfortunate coming out from a highly distinguished statesman especially now that the military has embarked in de-militarization of the North –central region of the country”.
It is felt in Nigeria that the effort at disarmament by the military gives the Fulani militia more advantage. The military nonetheless through Brigadier General Texas Chukwu ,its pubic relations director caution Nigerians to ignore Danjuma.
The military said on Sunday: The Nigerian Army is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to aid the civil authority whenever called upon to do so”, part of its statement read. Recall that Danjuma had asked Nigerians especially Taraba indigenes to protect themselves or risk being killed by herdsmen. A statement he made at the convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University, yesterday that pinched the Nigerian Army. Danjuma said, “You must rise to protect yourselves from these people; if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die.
Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai “I ask all of you to be on the alert and defend your country, defend your state. “This ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria. These killers have been protected by the military; they cover them and you must be watchful to guide and protect yourselves because you have no other place to go”, he said.
In view of this therefore, the Nigerian headquarter on Sunday issued a statement warning Nigerians not to listen to the advice of the statesman for they are saddled with the responsibility of protecting the territory. Read its full statement below: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to the unfortunate statement made by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, during the convocation ceremony of the Taraba State University on Saturday 24 March 2018 in which he categorically asserted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria was colluding with militias and other criminal elements and was unable to provide security for the citizens of Taraba State.
He further called the people of Taraba State to take up arms and defend themselves. “The Nigerian Army views this statement made by the former Chief of Army Staff as most unfortunate at this critical time that the military has embarked upon demilitarisation of the North Central Region of the Country. “While Nigerian Army would not want to join issues with the Elder Statesman, however, certain facts need to be clearly stated in the interest of the Taraba People and the Nigerian public: “The Nigerian Army is constitutionally charged with the responsibility of defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria and to aid the civil authority whenever called upon to do so. In this light, the authorisation for the conduct of Ex AYEM AKPATUMA was authorised and troops deployed to curb menace of the herdsmen-farmers conflict and other criminal activities in the NorthCentral Region amongst others. “
It is on record that the successes so far achieved in Ex AYEM AKPATUMA have been recognized and accepted by Nigerians. “The public is notified that Nigerian Army personnel have had to pay the supreme price for ensuring the sustenance of security in Taraba State. For instance, a gallant non-commission officer of the Nigerian Army was beheaded on 16 March 2018 in Takum Taraba State by criminal elements. “It is noteworthy to state that at the inception of Ex AYEM AKPATUMA, the Taraba State Government did not cooperate with the Nigerian Army due to the Army’s stance to remain absolutely neutral in the herdsmen-farmers crisis. The Nigerian Army will continue to remain as such. “For avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Army advises the people of Taraba State and indeed all other Nigerians to continue in their day-to-day activities and be law abiding as anyone caught with arms and ammunition will be dealt with accordance with the laws of the land. Every law-abiding citizen is assured of equal protection and security of their lives and property irrespective of his/her person.”