Former Chief Security Officer to the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retired), has explained why some #EndBadGovernance protesters are agitating for Russian intervention in the country.
This is even as the retired military officer has kicked against a putsch in the country. In an interview with a select team of journalists in Abuja, the former presidential aide called on those canvassing for a return to military rule to perish the thought and rather advocate for ‘military professionalism’.
He lamented that the country’s military has been overstretched with conflicts across the country.
Nigeria faces a range of security threats, including Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgency, separatist agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), banditry, herdsmen-farmers conflict, widespread kidnapping and abduction, terrorism, armed groups and oil theft in the oil-rich Niger Delta, high levels of violent crimes and kidnapping, border insecurity, among others.
According to data obtained from the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST), 98,083 Nigerians were killed between 2011 and 2023.
The deaths arose from terrorism, banditry, herders/farmers clashes, communal crises, cult clashes, extra-judicial killings, among others.
Similarly, data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a data bureau that collects real-time data on the locations, dates, actors, fatalities, and types of all reported political violence and protest events worldwide, revealed that 2,336 Nigerians were killed in various violent attacks within the first quarter of 2024.
On the clamour for Russian intervention by some of the protesters, Al-Mustapha said this may be not unconnected with the military coups in neighbouring countries and the role played by Russia in ‘liberating’ the people from the stranglehold of France.
He, however, absolved Russia from having a hand in the ongoing protests in Nigeria.
“First of all, go back to history. This same country called Nigeria unfortunately, from 1999 to date, there were incidences where neighbouring countries of Nigeria were used in rigging elections which is worse than military coup. Rigging elections, punishing the country, deceiving a country under the guise of democracy is one of the worst offences any politician can commit to his country.
“It became a trend, whenever elections came, some Nigeriens were brought in to vote in Nigeria. Is that right? That is rigging and part of those who are in government today were there when it was happening and they were part and parcel of those mobilising them to vote but they are not Nigerians!
“And today, that particular country you are talking about, their political situation has changed in such a way that Russia as a country is playing a role of liberating the country and the citizens of Nigeria are around. I am talking to you from what I have discovered. Those that are there believe, in their own level of reasoning and thinking and education, that if Russia can liberate their country the way they are feeling today, then they can as well do it in Nigeria,” he said.
Major Al-Mustapha argued that the ongoing demonstrations call for deep introspection among the ruling class.
The Guardian reports that about 40 persons have been arrested in northern Nigeria for waving Russia’s national flag during protests against the high cost of living, even as the Nigerian government warned that it is a ‘treasonable offence’ to fly the flags of foreign countries.
The former CSO equally charged military officers to exhibit a high sense of professionalism, patriotism, and loyalty in defending the country.
He underscored the need for advocates of military coups to canvas for military professionalism.
“Military subordination to democracy is what they should invest all their energies in. Remember, prior to the protest, Nigeria was totally enveloped, the military is overstretched, trying to provide solutions to contend Boko Haram, banditry, other numerous abuses, kidnapping and the rest of it and all the other social voices that have bedevilled Nigeria.
“It is the police and today, the military is overstretched and these things have continued to linger. If you care to investigate to see the scale of crime rate in Nigeria, you would realise that there is a build-up rather than a decline and that is most disturbing. The capacity in our military has actually been overstretched. So what is expected of Nigeria and Nigerians is to first help the military in either increase in strength and then giving them tasks that are scientifically proven in numerous other countries that have countered the same insecurity.”
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