By Desmond Mgboh
Retired Captain Yusuf Abdulmalik is an elder statesman resident in Kano. He is also the spokesman of the Retired Army, Airforce, Navy Association of Nigeria in the state. In this interview, the octogenarian painted the sorry picture of ex service men, charging government to address their plights. Among other issues, he also stressed the need for retired generals to quit politics and leave the stage for politicians.
How has life been for the military retirees under the present dispensation of President Muhammadu Buhari bearing in mind that he is one of you?
Let me say that we are not happy at all, with the present administration. A majority of retired military officers are disappointed with the way we are treated by the present government. It is even most painful when you take account of the fact that the President is a retired general and his Defence Minister is also a retired general and his adviser, General Monguno is also a retired general and so we are supposed to be enjoying, to be well treated by them. We are supposed to be treated better than any other sub – group in the Nigeria system. But that is not the case. That is not the case. The whole truth is that we are still waiting for such a time to come. Let me tell you about our condition of payment. Whenever there is an increment in our payment system, the pension board does not pay us the complete sum of money approved. And we have been complaining over the years on account of this. For instance, the Federal Government approved the debarment allowance since five years ago, but up till now, they are still saying that we are not included. So, on a general note, Nigeria ex- service men are passing through difficult times under the present leadership. They are finding it very hard to survive the harsh economic conditions. Some of them have died, some are sick and have huge hospital bills to take off their shoulders. Things are difficult.
But your people were one of those groups who campaigned for the election of the administration in 2015, you were in the forefront for the emergence of the government. What went wrong?
Yes in 2015 , we campaigned severally for President Buhari and he promised that he would treat our interests as a priority. In 2015, he promised us, not just us but even retired police officers. He assured us that he would make sure that all our dues are made available to us as and when due. So when he won presidential elections, I remember that we were excited, our members had looked forward to the future with high hopes and we even sent him a congratulatory message – we the ex-service men. But up till now, many of our expectations have not been met. We are struggling for the payment of the complete sum of 53 percent pay rise approved by Jonathan. And as I am speaking to you, up till now, about 23 per cent of the approved increment has not been paid.
Talking specifically, if you have to compare the administration of Jonathan and that of Buhari with particular regard to the treatment of ex- service men, how would you rate them?
Well, let me state it this way. May the soul of President Umaru Yar’ Adua, Nigeria’s former President rest in peace. Amen. I say this because President Jonathan completed the good works that he had started doing with us. Jonathan took over from him and the policy direction he initiated, Jonathan completed most of them. For example, it was during his time that our allowances were paid promptly and before the 30th of each month, we would have our monthly payment in our accounts. But since this administration took over, we started to experience a situation where in some cases, payment slips into the following month before we get paid; although there has been an improvement. In the past two months, we received our salary on the 26th. We are still praying that that would continue.
You once argued that if asked, you will not want a retired general to rule Nigeria again? Why would you hold to such a view?
Yes, capital yes. All retired generals should leave politics for the politicians, for younger Nigerians to manage. They should quit politics. From our point of view, the retirees have not contributed fairly well to the development of politics and democracy in Nigeria. They are not politicians; they are trained to secure the country and not to come to its leadership. They are supposed to play advisory roles, especially with regards to the security of the country. As you can see, their entry into politics has not done the country much better. I believe that Nigeria would be better off if the politicians are allowed to rule and if younger people are given the chance to come to leadership; this would break us from the regular faces that we have been dealing with. Nigerians are tired of the same faces. Nothing would change under this arrangement.
Insecurity is one of the major problems affecting the nation at the moment. As a retired security officer and a leading member of their association of retired ex-service men, how do you see the challenge and what do you think is the way out?
The situation is not looking good, it is really bad and it is not looking like a lot would change in the nearest future. The bandits have been capturing people and fleecing them of millions of Naira. In some cases, they would give them what they demand and they still harm their victims. We would continue to pray to God to assist our dear country and to assist everybody through these difficult times. We pray that God would touch the heart of these insurgents to desist from their evil ways, we pray to God to give the government the strength and knowhow to arrest the situation as soon as possible.
What do you think is responsible for the failure of government to end insecurity in the country? Why do we have this sudden rise in banditry and all form of insecurity in the land?
Well, if I should guess, one of the possible factors is lack of appropriate punishment for these insurgents and all these criminals. How many of these people who killed have been punished by equal measure? From time to time, we even see a situation where some of them who claimed that they have repented are being reabsorbed into the society. And you see that some of them after they had been resettled, returned to continue with their crimes. They see the whole thing as business. Is it not in this country that they appointed one of the leaders of the bandits as a traditional head of the Fulani community. Yes, this one happened in Zamfara State if I am not mistaken. This person was a well known bandit that has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police, yet they appointed him as a leader. The offences these people commit, they are not punished. They are so free. That is why they may not stop soon.
One of the recommendations that is there in the public is to grant the bandits and the insurgents amnesty and pardon them, once they are willing to renounce their ways. How do you see that option?
My own take is that whatever you do and is done to you, is justice. In other words, if you have killed someone, and if it is proven by law that you have killed, there is only one thing that would mean justice in your case. They have killed souls, they have been destroying many things and therefore, they should also pay the price for their acts. I don’t agree with pardon, I don’t agree with amnesty. Somebody killed people, slaughtered people, burnt all their properties, then you say you have pardoned him, have you done justice to his victims? No! Is this a definition of justice? No! If they have been taking the appropriate punishment for these crimes, then many of the people joining them would think twice before joining .
Only recently, the Federal Government said that terrorism would be wiped out by December, that is three months from now. How do you see the deadline? Is it feasible?
Well, let God keep us all alive. We shall see December and we will have answers to your question.
But do you think it is possible?
Well, how many times have they been making promises to Nigeria.? Of course, this is not the first time that this administration has made this sort of promise but didn’t fulfill it. Let me refresh your mind. During his campaign, the President as a candidate pledged openly to wipe out Boko Haram as soon as he assumed power. But what happened? He said that that would be their end, that there would be no more Boko Haram in Nigeria. But today, Boko Haram is still around and they are even increasing in population. So, it is a promise and all we can do is to wait and see. But I doubt that date.
Ahead of 2023, let us look at the leading Presidential candidates that we have on parade – Atiku, Peter Obi, Tinubu and Kwankwaso, what is your view about these candidates?
My take is that all of them are old faces in the political arena and contributed one way or the other to where we are today. They should all go and rest and allow new blood to come to power.
But Kwankwaso and Peter Obi have not been around at the Federal level.
But they were former governors at the state level and contributed their shares. They have something to say in an administration. They can walk up to the governor and say that this is my view and the president to say this is my view. They belonged to the same generation. These people have been around for so long. If only there is a way to revisit the whole 2023 primary and convention exercises all over again, I would have recommended that they let go and allow younger persons and new faces to come to power