Soma Elese, Abuja
The sudden dismissal of about 900 officers from the army in 1999 by the new civilian government of President Olusegun Obasanjo re-echoed at the public presentation of a book on the country’s first combatant officer, Brigadier Zakariya Mai Malari, in Abuja, Tuesday.
The dismissed officers who had served in political capacities mostly as governors were believed by the government to be ‘tainted’ and therefore unwanted in the army in need of professionalism after 29 years of military rule. The late Mai Mailari son had been military governor of Adamawa state, before the dawn of civilian administration in 1999.
While former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Chairman of the occasion held at the International Conference Center, had, during his address, apologized profusely to the younger Maimalari for the exercise that led to his abrupt exit from the army, stating that he stay would had afforded him the chance to immortalize the enviable qualities of his late father, Obasanjo took a different view, when he rose to speak as one of the guest speakers.
After identifying the younger Maimalari in the hall, jam-packed by retired and serving military officers, legislators, ministers, royal fathers and families of the late Maimalari, Obasanjo adjusted himself on the podium and cleared his administration of that action.
He said: “ Look, I have no apologies for taking that action. I had to make a tough decision then that all those who had tasted political power that they ought not to have tasted it should leave the military so that the country should be free from any political aberration.
“And since 1999, I believe we have learnt our lessons. The county had tasted a lot of bloodshed and deserved peace and progress”.
Earlier, Gowon, who said he narrowly missed being killed alongside Maimalari and many military officers in the January 15 military coup d’état, praised the late officer for being apolitical, loyal, patriotic with deep concern for the welfare of officers under his care.
The coup, the first in Nigerian history, also claimed the lives of political leaders such as the Primer of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, Primer of the Western Region, Sir Ladoke Akintola and others, unraveling events that pushed the nation into a civil war that lasted 30-months
“I hope we have seen the last of military interference in Nigeria today” Gowon said as a parting shot.
Earlier, book reviewer, Major Gen. Ike Nwanckwu, described the late Maimalari as a courageous, strict, caring, intelligent, diligent, dignified, humorous, non-tribal, disciplined and responsible officer whose assassination in the January 15, coup d’état 51 years ago left a yarning gap in the army and shattered the peace the country is still struggling to regain till date. Haruna Yahaya Koloma wrote the book.
