DHQ critics on Obasanjo, unpleasant and bad –Ex-generals

Some retired senior military officers have lashed out at the Defence
Headquarters for describing former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an
embarrassment to the military institution.
The Defence Headquarters in a remark on its Facebook page on Monday
had accused the former President of politicising serious national
security and military issues.
The military authorities were reacting to a statement credited to
the former President that the general elections were postponed to
enable President Goodluck Jonathan to use the Service Chiefs for
tenure extension in an electronic mail on Monday.
But a former Chief of Army Staff , Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd.),in a
telephone interview with our correspondent, condemned the military
authorities over the comments.
Akinrinade said Obasanjo was exercising his political rights, adding
that it was absurd for a junior officer to say anything against his
superiors.
The ex-general said, "Obasanjo has exercised his political rights. I
think his joining politics is what is causing this nonsense. What is
the business of the Defence Headquarters in politics anyway? How did
they get to the point where they are reading political statement by
politicians. They are now reacting to it. Obasanjo didn't abuse the
armed forces. He must have his reasons for what he said. It is a very
bad idea for a junior officer to come out in the public and chastise
an ex-commander-in-chief."
Also, a former Director of Army Legal Services, Col. Akin Kejawa
(retd.), described the comments against Obasanjo as being the product
of "the indiscipline that the military has degenerated into."
Kejawa, cautioned the military authorities, saying the reaction
betrayed the tenets of respect and discipline that the army was noted
for.
According to him, the comments made mockery of the army.
He said, "It is unethical. They should know how to respect elders. I
have read the report this morning and don't think that is good. It is
very disrespectful. He was a former head of state and he should be
accorded due respect, no matter what he has said.
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"This is what we are calling indiscipline in the military. A commander
is doing something; you cannot come out and start condemning him. In
the military, we don't do things like that. That is my own personal
view and as a lawyer with experience in military law, that is not
proper. Can somebody call his father a stupid person? No matter what
mistake he has made, you can't dishonour him."
When contacted, the first Military Administrator of Osun State, Maj.
Gen. Leo Ajiborisa (retd.), declined to comment on the matter because
it was against military etiquette to speak about his superiors.
He said, "I don't discuss political issue. It is insubordination for
anybody to write about his senior. Military etiquette does not teach
us that way, so I am not interested in pronouncing anything. I am not
a politician; they can go and sort their matter."
When contacted for his comment, retired Maj. Gen. Zamani Lekwot, said
he should be given time to mourn his younger brother's wife, who he
said, just died on Tuesday morning.
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