Prosperous nations often build strong walls and train their men to protect their nation from external attacks. The security and prosperity of such nations are sustained by the people’s ability for industrial contribution and emotional attachment to the nation. This is because people prefer staying where they can develop, manifest and market their potentials, and be valued as important members. But if many citizens are unconsented or dissatisfied with the nations’ administration, they may prefer to migrate to other places. Such internal dissatisfaction breeds rebellion and sabotage, causing terrible rulers to use the military to suppress the people instead of harmonizing and protecting them.
Around 1990s, there was a common belief that Nigerian military were incorruptible, especially when compared with police. They are trained to die in defending their country, and to live stable lives of sacrifice for their country. But after 1999, these beliefs about Nigerian military began to drop. Now, there are doubts about Nigerian military’s morality, purpose, competence and effects, judging from their roles in military and civilian regimes. Accusations on the Nigerian military include human-right abuses,[1][2] extra-judicial killings,[3] corruption,[4] sustaining terrorism for big allocations[5] and arrogance over citizens and other law-enforcement agents.
Why do societies need military protection?
Progressive societies are arranged such that members can develop their potentials for creating and exchanging wealth from natural resources.[6] To ensure peaceful collaboration in creating wealth and living well, they develop methods of managing human relationship in the society. When people have developed social methods for creating wealth and living happily, they feel the need to protect their wealth and way of life from external forces. Hence, contribution to the society is mainly divided into three: production, administration and protection.[7] And production forms the social foundation for progressive societies as it influences the social administration for prosperity and security. While everybody is encouraged to produce physical goods, the emotionally intelligent people are chosen to administer the society with great ideas, and the tactically strong people protect the society.
Though there are non-human attacks like flood, fire or other natural disasters, this article focuses on human attacks from outside a society. In a previous article on police reform,[8] we discussed how Nigeria can reform the police to prevent crises and disorder within the society. This article discusses defending attacks from outside.
Why would people want to attack another country?
- Greed: nations with rich human and natural resources are prone to attacks. Greedy nations seek to destabilize such countries in order to exploit their human and material resources.
- Revenge: countries attack one another in response to a real or fabricated harm done to them.
- Fear and jealousy: people attack others if threatened or envious of other countries’ growth.
- Liberation: with present globalization, people attack countries they believe are directly or indirectly influencing or controlling their country or government negatively.
Forms of attack
- Ideological attacks: aim to destabilize productive societies by planting harmful, demoralizing or distracting ideas among citizens. This type of ideas creates distrust and turns citizens against one another, leading to conflicts and fall in productive collaboration. It comes subtly by twisting social, religious or academic education, or from social media, movies, reality shows, songs and writings to promote hatred, envy, vanity, laziness or greed. When ideological attacks penetrate a country, citizens lose faith in the country and may assist outsiders to destroy it.[9]
Ideological attack is countered by regularly evaluating and modifying the ideological foundations for productivity and social responsibility in a nation. It requires gripping citizens’ loyalty by creating systems for citizens to earn meaningful living from developing and using their potentials for the growth of people in the society. It requires enlightenment and intelligence-gathering to know the citizens’ capacities and level of loyalty to the country.[10] For “a nation whose citizens lack a national consciousness and patriotism is a nation that has lost its soul”.[11]
- Products: restricting products or providing harmful products are among the ways for attacking a country. Different societies sustain themselves by exchanging their products with other societies. However, when a society is unproductive and totally dependent on other societies’ productivity, it becomes easy target for product attack. The societies upon which they depend can starve them of essential commodities for living, or poison them with unhealthy products. For “what security has a country that cannot feed itself?”[12]
Steps for reducing the risk of product attack include:
- Reorganizing the society’s foundations for collaborative productivity and quality control.
- Guarding the borders properly against smugglers of harmful and unregulated products.
- Fortifying the immigration, customs, navy and other agencies responsible for controlling the inflow of humans and products to the society.
- Military attack: is the most direct form of attack as it involves both secret and open use of military force on another country. Military attacks can come through water, land or air.
- Water: submarines, militarized speed boats, war-ships, marine-fighters, etc.
- Land: battalion, infantry, armoured vehicles, tanks.
- Air attacks: jet fighters, anti-missile, surveillance radar, surface to air missiles, etc.
Countering military attacks requires knowledge of a society’s immediate and potential attackers.
- First, self-evaluation to determine who your country is oppressing or has oppressed directly or indirectly that may seek revenge or liberation through military attacks.
- Second, stop the oppression, amend and fix relationship with those countries.
- Third, gather knowledge on greedy, envious or oppressed potential-attackers’ military ability, in case they decide attack despite sincere peace efforts.
- Fourth, barricade and properly secure your borders against possible invasions.
- Fifth, train and equip your people to collectively defend their society from any attack.
- Finally, mount surveillance to detect and neutralize any threat before it could do any harm.
Proper defence requires high moral ground, sustainable productivity and ability to coordinate strong military defence on air, land and water.
Ethnic communities’ administration and defence before colonial invasion in Nigeria/Africa
Before colonialism, several communities and kingdoms occupied different parts of the present Nigeria and used their resources for non-mechanized productivity. They also organized their communities for young men to defend their communities with manual weapons like spear, arrow and machete. Around 1850, European colonialists seeking mineral resources for their industries invaded with machine-guns to bombard the communities into submission.[13] Thus, British colonialists created Nigeria by brutally binding the unconsented kingdoms and communities[14][15] under a militarized government for exploiting resources.[16][17] They killed those who opposed their invasion and trained few loyal ones to assist them in enforcing the colonial rule.[18]
Before leaving at independence, colonialists replaced themselves with their native assistants and fixed constitution to guide them[19] in seizing and exporting people’s resources[20][21][22] for consumer products.[23] Thus, colonialists installed a divide-and-rule system between colonial successors who seize people’s resources for export and the defeated communities. Presently, the different ethnic communities are living in defeat under a colonially-imposed structure that confiscates their resources.Andto appear democratic, the colonially-imposed government created states, local governments and ministries to share few foreign products as infrastructure, salaries and charity handouts. Since then people struggle to occupy the colonially-made offices to enjoy foreign money from seized resources.
Nigerian military from colonial era to postcolonial governance
After bombarding the precolonial communities and imposing colonial rule, colonialists drafted and instructed few young men from different communities. British colonialists used the young men in West Africa as soldiers to control the natives and prosecute European wars (WWII).[24] Hence, Nigerian military developed from British colonialists’ “West African Frontier Force” (1956) and “Royal Nigerian Military Forces” (1963). Indigenes who succeed to occupy the colonially-made political offices use Nigerian military to restrict the defeated and exploited people from revolting. Civilian governments “turned armed forces into partakers of their oppressive rule to remove incentive to seize power (coup).”[25]
What is the use of Nigerian military in the post-colonial government?
Now, world superpowers do not need to attack Nigeria since Nigeria is ideologically and structurally defeated/exploited by colonialists and their local allies. “Most, if not all the companies handling key and strategic sectors of the country’s economy are from these unfriendly countries.”[26] Then the imposed government continues appeasing their imperialist machinations in “a strategy of waiting to be eaten last”.[27] Thus, instead of defending the ethnic communities, their resources and productivity, military is used for seizing people’s resources.[28][29] Also, Nigerian military is used to suppress insurgents, oppositions or social misfits that rise from the frustration of being denied resources for productivity.[30] Nigerian defence does not exist for the defeated communities[31] since the imposed government uses Nigerian military to seize their resources for former colonialists.
Challenges of Nigerian military
- Unclear purpose: The highest force in a soldier is the conviction about the nobility of his course for common good.[32] In theory, Nigeria’s imposed constitution allots national defence to the military,[33] but in practice, the alien political structure uses the Nigerian military for protecting post-colonial exploiters and their allies from the exploited people.[34] They often become escorts for big men, intimidation tools for the rich or bullies to the masses.
- Manner of getting leadership: in democracy, power develops organically from bottom (people) to top (leaders). But in autocracy, power is first seized from a defeated people and given from top (rulers) to down (appointed officers). Nigerian government and military came from colonialists, and obtaining leadership positions in the military follows the autocratic appointment from top to bottom. To get power, Nigerians struggle to occupy the colonially-made position for commanding Nigerian military or to appease the position holder. Thus, a big man’s son/loyalist can be promoted to lead more intellectually and emotionally meriting candidates. Then, sycophancy to authority overtakes merit, not only in the Nigerian military, but in almost all sectors of Nigeria.
- Low quality of recruits: “the fundamental strength of any enterprise lay in its people.”[35] After British colonialists left, their trained successors[36] assisted foreign companies to exploit people’s resources in exchange for foreign consumer products. There was no need for growing military number until the Biafran war, when military hastily enrolled many untrained young men to become soldiers.[37] Thus, the lowest ranks were reserved for the numerous unemployed people who only understood “shoot” orders without proper intellectual training. Also, the forceful binding of unconsented communities in Nigeria creates an army of people with mutual distrust.
- Porous border: there are over 1,500 illegal entry-points along Nigeria’s borders with Benin Republic and Niger Republic.[38][39] These unrestricted borders provide easy entry for the inflow of dangerous people and materials into the country. Even the custom/immigration officers in the watched areas “lack fast boats, vehicles, communication equipment and sophisticated arms.”[40]
- Dependence on foreign weapon and maintenance:[41] “the country’s armed forces rely on external sources for obtaining virtually all its military hardware.”[42] Since Nigeria’s imposed government is programmed by colonialists’ constitution to seize mineral resources, Nigerians lack resources for producing military hardware. Instead, the Nigerian government relies on ex-colonialists for guns, bullets, tanks, jet-fighters, speed-boats and communication gadgets. Unfortunately, the foreign exploiters benefitting from Nigerians’ restriction from using resources for production will not supply the equipment for stopping their exploitation.
- Military arrogance and non-cooperation with other forces: the military coups, expansion and hold on Nigerians after the civil war entrenched the Nigerian military’s nearly first-among-equals status in Nigeria.[43] Since then, most military personnel became arrogant, feeling entitled to preferential treatment from everybody including police and other law-enforcement agents.[44]
Qualities required in military personnel
Since the basic strength of any enterprise lay in its people[45] reordering Nigerian military requires sieving through the military personnel. Defence is a sensitive role that requires highly coordinated persons to avoid social breakdown. Among the qualities required from military personnel include:
- Ability to adapt to different situations, to learn fast in new situations and to gather info.
- Demonstrated ability to intellectually understand the society and its agreement (laws).
- Meet up with standard university admission requirements.[46]
- Retentive memory, facial recognition and sociable personality to blend in the society.
- Psychological balance and mental sanity certified by reliable clinical psychologists.
- Physical fitness, energy and sound health history.
- Able to learn about maintaining and handling weapons, to avoid accidental discharges.
- Original citizenship, verifiable moral character and devotion to the nation. The strength of a soldier comes from the love of what is behind him, not the hatred of what is in front of him.
- Having no history of felony conviction, domestic or sexual abuse, illegal drug use and driving or financial recklessness.[47]
Reorganizing the Nigerian society for proper military defence
Reordering Nigerian military may not work without reorganizing the different people bound in Nigeria to create a prosperous and enviable society. Hence, a sincere government will arise to:
- Conduct social research to recognize the different colonially-bound peoples and their respective lands and resources, instead of holding to the colonial idea of an alien government ownership of all lands[48] and resources.[49]
- Organize intercommunal conferences within senatorial districts, towards a national conference for the different peoples to agree on their partnership style. Thus, constitutional decisions and laws will reflect the people’s beliefs and agreement for a better partnership and technologically productive collaboration.
- Invite local (and foreign-trained) specialists to train the people to process their local resources for further industry. Hence, each people will work to specialise in producing more of whatever natural resources they have.
- Release the people’s onshore resources for industrial productivity and eventual tax-payment to the central governments. This will motivate the government to encourage and protect people’s productivity for better tax-returns.A wealth-creating people with active industries will eagerly sustain a desirable society and collaborate for proper military defence.
- Secure the country’s landed borders with electrified cable fences and posts against invasions.
Reordering the Nigerian military for a new Nigeria
- Each community sends three or more trusted young indigenes with the above-stated qualities to their local government. If the communities already have people in the military, the personnel who wish to continue require attestation from their communities. Drafting military personnel from productive communities enriches an army with people who fight to defend what they love, and not unemployed people fighting for an opportunity to eat.
- The individuals will undergo tests by independent bodies to determine their intellectual, physical and emotional fitness or grade for their posts.
- Democratize Nigerian military by making clauses for Nigerian military personnel within levels, camps or departments to elect or impeach their commander, instead of leaving the leadership appointments for superiors’ sycophants or highest bidders.[50] “The key for (military) leadership is the soldiers’ confidence in their commander. If you don’t trust him, if you are not confident in him, you can’t follow him.”[51]
- Upgrade the defence academies to tertiary institutions with special courses in administration, law, security, geography, information technology, education, engineering, accounting or other nation-building courses. Thus, they will have other productive duties to perform when they are not on defence duty.
- Integrate the former Biafran research and development units that manufactured weapons during Biafran war to initiate local weapon production.[52][53]
- Retrain those who failed their intellectual or psychological tests to qualify for their posts.
- Institute post-war disorder management, and association for fallen heroes’ family welfare.
What secures and prospers a nation is the ideal upon which it is founded and managed. Though the colonial ideal for creating Nigeria was brutal exploitation, Nigerian ethnic communities will negotiate for productive collaboration and security. A true military is created by the society, from members of the society and for common good, not for exploitation. If our machines are modern, but our hearts are still of the Stone Age, our world will sink.
[1] Tayo Demola, “Justice and military brutality in Nigeria” in Daily post, 5July, 2013 www.dialypost.ng/2013/07/05/tayo-demola-justiceand-and-military-brutality-in-Nigeria/ retrieved 12 December, 2018.
[2] “Military brutality should end now” in Punch 26th February, 2016. Punchng.com/military-brutality-should-end-now/
[3] Amnesty international, “war crimes by Nigeria’s military”, 12 January, 2018 https://www.amnesty.org.uk/nigeria-military-war-crimes-boko-haram retrieved 12 December, 2018.
[4] “Badeh, Alkali’s murder meant to hide corruption in the military” in Punch, 31 December, 2018. https://punchng.com/badeh-alkalis-murder-meant-to-hide-corruption-in-the-military-report/ retrieved 31 December, 2018
[5] “Corruption in military responsible for faltering Boko Haram war” in This Day, 31 December, 2008 https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/30/report-corruption-in-military-responsible-for-faltering-bharam-war/?amp
[6] Cf. Walter Rodney, How Europe underdeveloped Africa, 2009 Edition (Abuja: Panaf press, 2009), p.23
[7] Derek Johnston, A brief history of philosophy (London: MPG Books Ltd, 2006) p.26
[8] Chukwunwike Enekwechi, “Police Reform” in Restartnaija…
[9] T. A. Imobighe, Nigeria’s defence and national security linkages (Ibadan: Heinemann books, 2003) p.9
[10] T. A. Imobighe, p.110
[11] T. A. Imobighe, p.9, 30
[12] T. A. Imobighe, p.19
[13] Oladele Fadeiye, European conquest and African resistance (Lagos: Murfat publication, 2011), p.65-69
[14] S. O. Oyedele, “Federalism in Nigeria” in Issues contemporary political economy of Nigeria (edited) Hassan A. Saliu, op.cit, p.57
[15] cf. Richard Dowden, Africa altered states, ordinary miracles. (New York: Public Affairs, 2010). p.3-4
[16] Walter Rodney, How Europe underdeveloped Africa, 2009 edition (Abuja: Panaf publishing Inc. 2009), p.273
[17] C. C. Dibie, Essential Government (Lagos: Tonad Publishers, 2012), p.137
[18] Oladele Fadeiye, op. cit., p.68
[19] Cf. Walter Rodney, op. cit. 319.
[20] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1, paragraph 2 “… all lands in which minerals have been found in Nigeria and any area covered by its territorial waters or constituency and the Exclusive Economic Zone shall, from the commencement of this Act be acquired by the Government of the Federation…” “No person shall search for or exploit mineral resources in Nigeria or divert or impound any water for the purpose of mining except as provided in this Act.” “The property in mineral resources shall pass from the Government to the person by whom the mineral resources are lawfully won, upon their recovery in accordance with this Act.”
[21] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 2, paragraph 1
[22] Nigerian minerals and mining act 2007 act no. 20, chapter 1, Part 1, Section 1, paragraph 3
[23] Walter Rodney, op. cit. p.319.
[24] T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.130
[25] T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.75
[26] T. A. Imobigbe, op. cit. p.26
[27] T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.127
[28] Kelvin Ebiri, Chido Okafor, “Military attacks militants, pirates, destroys illegal oil facilities in Niger Delta” in Guardian, 14 November, 2018. https://m.guardian.ng/news/military-attacks-militants-pirates-destroys-illegal-oil-facilities-in-niger-delta/ retrieved 12 December, 2018.
[29] Chukwudi Akasike and Olaleye Aluko, “Military deploys troops in N’Delta, militants threaten attacks” in Punch 8 October, 2018. https://punchng.com/operation-crocodile-smile-military-deploys-troops-in-ndelta-militants-threaten-attacks/ retrieved 9 October, 2018.
[30] Chukwunwike Enekwechi, “Moving Nigerians from necessary liabilities to productive assets” in Restartnaija 18 December, 2018. https://restartnaija.com/2018/12/18/episode-15-nigerians-liabilities-assets/ retrieved 20 December, 2018.
[31] C.f. T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.128
[32] Best check against military coup is good governance.
[33] 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, section 217-220
[34] Cf. T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.128
[35] Lee Kwan Yew, From third world to first (USA: HarperCollins, 2000), p.527
[36] Cf. Walter Rodney, op. cit. 319
[37] Imobighe 132
[38] New Nigerian, 5 October, 1984
[39] T. A. Imobighe, p.41
[40] Imobighe 16
[41] Imobighe 11, 138
[42] Imobighe 14
[43] Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Armed_Forces
[44] Kazeem Ugbodaga, “Soldiers beat up LASTMA officer” in PMNews, 13 October, 2015. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/10/13/brt-lane-violation-soldiers-beat-up-lastma-officer/ retrieved 17 December, 2018.
[45] Lee Kwan Yew, From third world to first (USA: HarperCollins, 2000), p.527
[46] Cf. Egon Bittner, The Functions of the police in modern society (Maryland, USA: National Institute of Mental Health, Nov 1970)
[47] http://www.discoverpolicing.org/what_does_take/?fa=requirements
[48] 29th March 1978, Land use act. P7
[49] Chukwunwike Enekwechi, “The social research for a new Nigeria” in Restartnaija June 5, 2018. https://restartnaija.com/2018/06/05/social-research-new-consented-nigeria/ retrieved 22nd July, 2018
[50] Cf. Dan Senor and Saul Singer, Startup nation (New York: Twelve, 2011), p.63
[51] Dan Senor and Saul Singer, Startup nation (New York: Twelve, 2011), p.63
[52] T. A. Imobighe, op. cit. p.104
[53] Cf. Joshua Akinwumi, Biafran technology during the war “I nearly ran mad when my mother died few days after I travelled to England” in Punch, 21 July, 2018. www.punchng.com/i-nearly-ran-mad-when-my-mother-died-days-after-i-travelled-to-england-akinwumi/