AKINWALE ABORISADE writes that more and more ex-military men, many of whom served as administrators during the heyday of military rule, now have their eyes on elective positions in the country
With the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, a majority of the citizenry celebrated the liberation, as it were, from the grips of the military autocrats with pomp and circumstance. Indeed, they had every reason to pop the champagne recognising that the military had been in the saddle of the nation‘s leadership for more than 30 years. So for the majority of the citizenry, the return of civil rule not only brought a relief on their psyche, it also opened a platform for them to witness another system of governance.
Democratic rule in their thinking therefore suggests that the military has nothing to do with governance. In other words, the place of ex- military men and officer should be in securing the nation‘s borders and protecting her sovereignty.
But limiting their role in the polity, is one argument the former military administrator of Osun State, Theophilus Bamigboye, is opposed to. He holds the view that every human being is a political animal and so every one is allowed to express oneself.
Interestingly as these divergent views go on, many of the retired military men and their allies who were part of the past military government have not only signified their intention to run for political offices in 2011, but have participated actively in mainstream politics since 1999.
Among ex-service men that have dominated the nation‘s political space not just at the level of presidential candidates, but behind the scenes as well are Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammadu Buhari, David Mark, Buba Marwa, Tunde Akogun, Sam Ewang and a long list of served and serving governors as well as their contemporaries in the House of Representatives and the Senate. At the lower strata of governance, many of these men who many believe contributed to the country‘s arrested development are still making waves at the grassroots level.
For instance in 1999, former military head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military head of state between 1976 and 1979 took over the mantle of leadership from the government of Gen.l Abdulsalam Abubakar (retd.) as an elected president in 1999. He governed for two terms of eight years and still desired a third term ticket but for the public outcry that greeted the bid.
Although Obasanjo was not the only retired military ruler who ventured into candidate of the Accord Party in Kwara State in the 2007 election, is again eyeing the number one job in the state. Analysts posit that as part of his calculation to realise his ambition, the former military administrator has boarded the PDP wagon so as to lock horn with Senator Gbemisola Saraki, daughter of the acclaimed father of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki.
In Ogun State, the story is equally not different. Olurin is bidding for the same position and he is believed to have been anointed by Obasanjo whose daughter has allegedly been pencilled down as his running mate in the 2011 poll in the state.
Rasaki, who is having hard times following conflicting interest in the Oyo State PDP, now has his eye on the senate and has said that there was no backing out on the plan to represent his people at the Upper House.
In the same vein, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whose emergence as the governor of Osun State in 2007 is still being contested by the governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, is tinkering with the idea of joining the likes of Mark in the Senate.
But as these ex-military men flood the political landscape, many Nigerians are still indifferent to their desire to participate again in governance, just as some others are totally opposed to their ambition. Indeed, commentators from the latter school of thought hold the view that these Kakhi boys, as it were, are merely making incursion into politics to satisfy their inordinate ambition and lust for power.
Former senator Lekan Balogun, who alleged that Obasanjo and Babangida were largely responsible for the problems besetting the country, said while a few of the past military administrators performed creditably, many others actually lacked focus and sense of direction in the states they administered.
Read More:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011210415746
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