Buhari’s Certificate Controversy: NGO Appeals to Nigerian Army

Center for Moral Mentorship (CMM) championing the restoration of moral values and ethics to the Nigerian state has called on the Nigerian Military to henceforth release its workforce for further training to avoid the embarrassment the All Progressives Congress Candidate , General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd)’s certificate controversy exposed the Nigerian military.

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Director of the center for Moral Mentorship, Aishatu Maureen Edward who canvassed the view during a press briefing in Awka yesterday asked that the Nigerian Army Education Corps , Corps Commander Major General Adebayo should liaise with the managers of National Open University to establish a center in all the barracks for upgrading of soldiers academically.

This, she said will enable soldiers and officers who were enlisted with lower qualifications to upgrade themselves against the previous stance of not allowing soldiers to sneak out for upgrading courses and would not allow as many as would want to go for upgrading courses outside military courses.

‘’….a lot of senior officers who would have been happy to retire and fend for themselves in the civil society but develops cold feet at retirement because they have no higher qualifications that could have taken them far in other climes after retirement.   I am therefore advocating that since the Army has done well in the schools they established like the Command Secondary Schools as well as their medical services, they should be upgrading to enable them retire into the schools and hospitals and many others special schemes rather than retard after retirement or join politics as the last resort. My findings reveals that most retired officers found themselves in main stream of politics which in my own opinion is not complimentary for the gentlemen officers I use to know and admire……..indeed politics is a dirty game and does not befit our polished gentlemen officers.

In recent times our officers who abinito do not condone lies or anything that look like lies, are now technical liars because of politics . The quest for political powers or affiliation cum romance with those at the corridors of political power  have risen more than quest for our most cherished army promotion and recommendations . It is a pity , regrettable and a shame.    

‘’ As far as I am concerned, the Army gave me the best which I never had as a civilian before joining the Army but resigned because of medical challenge I had but I insist that the least soldier in the Army is better than the best graduate produced in nowadays Universities, hence most parents pay through their nose to have their children in military schools. That is why I am saying that universities should be established by the Army to further contribute to the society after retirement…….so the drama now about Buhari’s certificate does not move me an inch. But to avoid the scenario in future, the military should make education of its workforce a priority whether military training or personal training with permission for those who entered the army with school certificate to be doctors of philosophy before retirement.  Let me categorically state that, most times , I don’t believe in paper qualifications because it is not the true test of knowledge. Most of today’s graduates who are seeking for jobs could not write an application, talk more of a paragraph of whom they are on demand.

Let me use this opportunity to encourage the Nigerian Army to learn to protect their own in times like this because we don’t know who will be the next victim of public mischievous scandal because I cant understand the meaning of ‘Expirit de corps , Restricted, Strictly Confidential and Top Secret language soldiers were taught in the Army.

My worry is that having been an image maker in the Army, it gives me a lot of frustration in continuing enjoying the image some professionals who are no longer there labored to build. I now understand the saying which goes that it is difficult to build but easy to destroy. I am convinced the Nigerian Army I know is not a political army and people should stop making efforts to politicize the army.

I would like to commend the Chief of Army staff, General K.T.J Minimah who I know has been in the world Guinness book of record before now as the first Airborn General in Africa, to do extra ordinary feat in the line of my request and the face of Nigerian security challenges.  

She said the Nigerian Army can establish Universities and hospitals as well as Engineering firms that could absorb their retiring officers in line with civil military relationship that is being advocated by the army today.