A former Minister of Police Affairs, Major-Gen. David Jemibewon (retd), in this interview with SUCCESS NWOGU, urges politicians to avoid acts capable of encouraging the military to take over power from civilians
Some weeks ago, you expressed the view that the February 14 and 28 general elections should not be postponed. How do you feel now that the elections have been postponed?
I spoke on this matter about two weeks ago. My view, as of that time, was that the conditions under which there could be postponement of the elections were firstly, if there was war; secondly, if there was disaster and thirdly if there was an emergency.
Unfortunately all these reasons did not arise; but since the elections have been postponed, there is nothing one can do other than to wish that whenever the elections take place, God grants us peace.
The postponement has generated divergent reactions. The polity is tensed. What is your view on the situation?
I can say that I do not know the details, but there is nothing you and I can do about it other than to wish our country the best. That is all I can say for now.
What’s your assessment of the reasons given for the postponement of the elections and what is your advice for the Independent National Electoral Commission?
I had the opportunity of listening to the telecast of that postponement by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega. It was essentially on the issue of insecurity and the fact that security agencies said that they would not be able to guarantee total security if the two elections were conducted on February 14 and 28. I would not say that INEC should have gone ahead and conducted the elections as scheduled.
INEC is an agency and there are inputs from other relevant stakeholders for it to successfully conduct free, fair, transparent and acceptable elections. Since INEC had been asked to mellow down, it will be difficult for it to go ahead as it had planned. That is the way I look at it.
I am not saying that the best thing is for the postponement but then, I am not sure if INEC would have acted independently when those in charge of security said they could not guarantee security.
Does the postponement have any negative effect on the socio-economic and political activities in the country?
Certainly, the tempo has gone down. A lot of programmes have changed their courses. I will give you a practical example in town. There is a construction company operating around my area. A top staff of the company, who is not a Nigerian, stopped operations because of the election, believing that it would take place as scheduled. Now that the elections have been postponed by six weeks, it is most likely the expatriates will not come back until after the election. What would have looked like two or four-week holidays will now be over six weeks. And in six weeks, the rainy season will have set in. I want to believe a lot of things have been affected by the elections postponement.
I would have wished that my profession (the profession I belong to is the military) is not drawn into partisanship. It appears the military is almost being drawn into what they should not have been seen to be involved in. Professionally I wish they had retained a more non-partisan posture of the military. Other than that, all I can pray for is for peace and development of this country.
I would have wished that it remained non-partisan for people to have great trust and confidence in the Army and for soldiers to be able to perform and discharge their constitutional responsibilities without any interference.
How can INEC take advantage of the postponement in terms of voter education, distribution of permanent voters cards, training of its regular and ad-hoc staff, and ensuring transparency in the conduct of the rescheduled elections?
I am not too sure that some of the comments I hear are fair to INEC. If people make insinuations and do not trust INEC even when they are doing their best and there is no evidence to support the argument that they are not doing their duties, it could be very discouraging. It is also the same with your profession too. If you are doing your best and those who are supposed to support you do not feel comfortable with you, even when you are doing your best, it could be very discouraging. I wish INEC the best. You can imagine if you are the chairman of INEC and you are getting knocks from both sides, just imagine how uncomfortable you will feel. I wish the INEC the best and want to believe they are doing their best.
It has been reported that there is a plot to ensure that the INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, goes on terminal leave to prevent him from conducting the election. What consequences will the plot have if this is carried out?
I want to believe that it is a rumour. Anyway what I can say that it is a rumour and I hope everybody will work in the interest of this country. If everything good is done, it will be for the good of this country.
Against the backdrop of the political tension in the country, do you have any advice for politicians?
They should play by the rules of the game. We need peace and maturity for all of us who are involved politically. We should work for the wellness and progress of this country because it will be better for all of us and for this country to be peaceful and to develop. It is our responsibility in whatever form to perform our jobs in accordance with the laid-down rules. If everybody does his/her bit, there will be peace in our country.
I think it is important because it is under stable democracy that a country can make progress. With peace, there would be development.
When we say we are the leader of Africa, we ought to be leader of Africa in all positive directions. If some small countries have gone through their elections and are adjudged to be successful, there should be no reason why we should not do better than we are doing.
Some observers are afraid of military incursion into governance if the political tension in the land worsens. Do you have similar fears?
Honestly, there should be no military incursion; nobody wishes it. The military does not need distraction.
The military has received bashing by some observers over what they have described as lacklustre performance by soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram. How would you describe the outcry?
The way some people describe the military as if they are not efficient does not encourage those who are in the field. The man in the field, on an operation of this nature,expects that his country men will give him support. They need it to give their best. But instead people complain against the military as if the operation is a Boy Scout affair.
Honestly, you should not play politics with military operations. The way some people discuss it when I watch some programmes on the television is not the best. What we need to do is to support the military to make sure that they give their best.
Some Nigerians are afraid that if politicians continue to mismanage the economy and overheat the polity, the military may give that as an excuse to take over power.
I pray that it does not get to that level. Whether it gets to that level or not, Nigerians are worried. I am a Nigerian and I am worried too. So I agree with that.
What must politicians do to forestall military intervention?
I would wish that those who are in authority play the game so well that there would be no situation where the military will come in.
The National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.) was quoted to have said that in six weeks time, Boko Haram insurgency would be terminated. Do you share his optimism?
I am sure he must have weighed a lot of things before he said that. And sometimes to me, when a statement is made, I take it more as a prayer than anything else. I just pray that what he said works out.
Some people think the failure of the military to rout the Boko Haram insurgents within the stipulated six-week period will deal a final blow on the integrity of the Nigerian Army. Are you similarly worried?
I do not think that it will infringe on the integrity of the military because it was the adviser of Mr. President that gave the assurance and not the spokesman for the military. So I do not see how it will encroach on their integrity as it is not the military that gave six weeks deadline. But
Even before the six weeks, I want to call on Nigerians to pray for and support the military to defeat the insurgents.
Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger have formed an alliance against Boko Haram. What do you make of this regional collaboration; are you upbeat that it will bring an end to the insurgency?
I want to believe that ordinarily when you get cooperation, you are likely to achieve more security than when you do not have cooperation. I am very optimistic that it could turn out to be positive in addressing the insurgency in the North-East.
Some countries like the United States of America and the United Kingdom have condemned the postponement of the elections. How do you view their positions?
Even within Nigeria, there were people that held different views and did not agree that the elections should be rescheduled. When it was finally rescheduled, some of them gave opposing views. If some Nigerians held divergent opinions about the rescheduling of the elections and felt the way they did, part of the international community have a right to feel the way they do.
Are you calling for their understanding on the rescheduling of the elections?
Of course, in a situation like this, you cannot wish your country the worst. You pray for the best. Since the elections have been rescheduled, there is nothing one can do about it. I also believe that the international community should show understanding on the development and respect Nigeria’s decision on that. I would also wish that they take things as they are and encourage us and we hope for the best for this country as we finally go for the elections.
There is information of arms build-up in some states. For instance in Kwara State, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salihu Garba expressed concern as the command arrested two people and a truck-load of ammunition being conveyed from Bukina Faso enroute to Ibadan, Oyo State. The suspects were apprehended at Kusobuso by the police. As a security expert, is this arms build-up worrisome, especially now that we are getting ready for elections?
It is not a good trend. But I am sure security operators will take care of that.
Many have called on relevant security agencies to mop up illegal arms as a way of forestalling violence; does this make sense?
Of course, it should be the wish of peace-loving and security-conscious Nigerians that arms in illegal hands are recovered by security agents. I agree that arms must be removed from illegal hands.
Soldiers on Tuesday laid siege to the residence of one the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Some observers have described it as worrisome. Is it?
Honestly, I do not know; I cannot say anything about this whether it is siege or not, you have to pray for the best.
But people have said that it is unconstitutional for soldiers to lay siege to the residence of politicians in democratic dispensation as they have done to Tinubu.
What was the reason given for the action of the soldiers?
No reason was given, but observers have speculated that it could be the beginning of clampdown on political actors, especially leaders of the APC.
I would not be able to comment on it because I did not know what you just told me now. I have been on travels for some important issues. So I don’t have the details.
But as a retired Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, is it right for whatsoever reason for soldiers to go after political actors?
Some issues are not for public discussion but before one makes certain comments on any security matter, the person should have a little bit of knowledge. I do not know the details. But if it has to do with security, the security people will probably have their reasons for their action. Though laying siege may not be the best, but then it depends. I do not want to comment on that because I do not have information.
It is also feared that the Federal Government is planning a clampdown on the media; what will such a clampdown portend?
It is speculative and one cannot make an informed comment on rumour or something that is being speculated. If that happens, then we will react.
