By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)
The leadership of the Yoruba Council Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye) has demanded an instant reversal of an order issued on Monday by an Army court martial for the demotion of Major- General Olusegun Adeniyi to the rank he previously held three years ago.
According to reports, among General Adeniyi’s offence was a request that the military be equipped with sophisticated hardwares to confront the recalcitrant terrorists.
The court martial which convicted Adeniyi, a former Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, also ordered his demotion to the position he held three years ago, a development which means the General will take orders from his junior officers he once administered.
However, the Yoruba group said the move was “scornfully premeditated to disgrace the pride of Yoruba and one of Nigeria’s most intelligent, highly cerebral professional and unflinchingly thoroughbred military officer in the history of the Nigerian Army, who fought gallantly as the ‘Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole’, just because he raised and exposed an extremely frustrating danger and high level complicity decoy alarm on a wrong operational signal from the Military High Commands, now termed unlawful disclosure of military information via social media etal.”
Adeniyi’s demotion has been attracting widespread criticism from the Nigerian public at a time when the military is currently public criticism over its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east and other security challenges.
The New Diplomat had reported that the court on Monday found Adeniyi guilty of violating military social media guidelines and ordered his demotion by at least three years.
Adeniyi’s aide, Private Tokunbo Obanla, who was prosecuted alongside the general, was also found guilty and sentenced to 28 days in jail with hard labour.
However, both convictions are subject to confirmation by the Army Council. In a statement released on Wednesday by the YCW President, Aare Oladotun Hassan, the group said the demotion was a disservice to patriotism and Adeniyi who sacrificially averted what could have resulted in a major deadly blow and unexpected military set back in the war against insurgency and terrorism in the North East and other parts of the country.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make amends and correct the ills, due to negative consequences from the manner of treatment Adeniyi had received.
“Unfortunately, we are aghast at the most embarrassing judgment that convicted the Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, and his orderly Tokunbo Obanla who was sentenced to hard labour.
“This is best termed a Northernized evil ploy to silence the Southwest, especially when we just lost one of our best flying Officer, (Tolulope) Arotile in a most opaque and suspicious manner.
“We see this judgment by the military high echelons as better way of summarily dismissing General Adeniyi through the back door, wherein he is subjected to a double jeopardy of extreme harsh and excruciatingly conditions that will thereafter grudgingly snuff out his passion of service to his fatherland: Nigeria, consequently lead to his premeditated terminal resignation.
“We call on President Muhamnadu Buhari to urgently correct this ills, due to its sporadic spiral negative consequences.
“Firstly, it is a grave moral killer to our officers and men, particularly a waste of lives for military that paid the supreme price of death at the Battle fields in the Sambisa forest and other black spots in the North East region.
“While serving as a great moral booster to the Boko haram insurgents, who are unrepentantly prepared to wreck unredeemable havoc on innocent Nigerians, such as the recent Jere LG Killings of over 78 innocent rice farmers in Borno State, others are: Kastina, Kaduna, Zamfara recent killings, and other parts of the country not left out.
“Unfortunately, another burden of regrets is that, this singular tainted actions by the military will be a huge clog in the wheel of defeating boko haram.
“The conviction of General Adeniyi and others defines a scenario of paying meritorious service with scornful betrayals.
“Inevitably, this ill-motivated acts will increasingly result to vulnerable citizen’s lack of faith, declined absolute confidence and trust in the Federal Government’s led Nigerian Army to guarantee safety of their lives and properties accordingly.
“For instance, it is most unfortunate for the Northeast Governors led by Governor Zulum of Borno State to seek support from external paid mercenaries for rescue, considering the overblown budgets to the defence.
“Apparently, the people’s lives and survival now solely rest primarily on the strength and authorized permission of the insurgents rather than the Army.
“Most distracting and disappointing is to hear from Mr. Garba Sheu mocking the dead to seek permission from a military that has blazingly and intentionally dissipates its own powers recklessly.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere…We have emphatically spoken,” he said.
