I was born, lived in, and rose to General in the barracks
– Gen. IBM Haruna
Daily Trust: Your military career began when you enrolled in the Nigerian Military School (NMS) in Zaria. Could you please share some memories of that experience?
Maj-Gen. IBM Haruna: I was a pioneer in the then Boys’ Company which started on May 25, 1954 and subsequently became the Nigerian Military School (NMS) with 30 pioneer students. We were mostly children of former soldiers who had served Britain in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), veterans whose children were recruited for training to take positions of leadership in the Nigerian Army. Our leaders foresaw the growing need for training Nigerians into the leadership cadre. We were then approaching independence. I remember, the 30 boys came from different parts of Nigeria.
I was recruited in Zaria where my father was serving as a policeman, but he was also a teacher and had served in the army during World War II and later demobilized and joined the police. As a member of the Boys’ Company, I got familiar with other children who had come from different ethnic groups and different religions, mainly Muslims and Christians from different denominations. It was interesting that despite the hard work that we were subjected to as pioneers, we were in charge of gardening, cleaning of our environment, inherited former British NCOs’ quarters, mudbuilt with thatched roofs, no running water, and no modern toilet system.
The interesting thing is that we started life as children who supported their parents by farming, who walked to school with their books in small containers on their heads but were privileged to get an environment where good teachers were provided.
DT: You became a General at the age of 37 and then retired, how did that feel at the time, and what led to it? Maj-Gen. Haruna: I didn’t know why then, but recently, reading through General Olusegun Obasanjo’s book, I knew that there was a professional conflict as we were perceived as a challenge to the authorities because we were very senior officers but not members of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) and we had very wide experience and command relationships with a wide range and groups of officers.
Obasanjo, being the Head of State, succeeded General Murtala Muhammed and many of our junior officers had been appointed above us in rank and
appointments and perhaps we were perceived as disgruntled and dissatisfied officers and that we had done a very good job but there was no good job we could do in the political atmosphere. We were then released to go and face our future. It was unexpected, but to me, I see it as a blessing having retired as a Major-General at the age of 37.
I still had to look for what I could do in life. I thought of going back to study farming, but I was offered Law at ABU Zaria and I grabbed it. That changed my life and enabled me to settle down comfortably.
DT: Have any of your children followed your footsteps career-wise?
Maj-Gen. Haruna: None of my children have joined the military, but I have a lady lawyer in the house. The eldest read Chemistry at ABU, the other is doing business, but none ventured into the military. My first son would have liked to join the military in the 70s. As a child, he used to wear military uniforms and played in the garden like a soldier. It was unfortunate when he saw his friend’s father, General Bissala, who was my contemporary with Murtala, on TV being accused of involvement in the 1976 coup. He saw his bosom friend’s father shot at the bar beach, and never wanted to be close to the military anymore. He didn’t think it was fun at all.
DT: Military men tend to be strict fathers. What kind of dad were you to your kids when they were young, and today as grownups?
Maj-Gen. Haruna: Discipline is part of the professional code of the family foundation. Even as a civilian and as a child I went through very strict home codes. We were always with our parents in the barracks. I really never moved out of the barracks until I retired in 1977. All my body language and mechanism was about discipline and reinforced by religious tenets. My children are free within the bounds of this and they never laboured for me as I laboured for my parents. And unfortunately, of course I am still labouring for them. I think the special thing is the family training and discipline, and within that is freedom.
DT: Now that you’ve retired, what is a typical day like for you? Maj-Gen.
Haruna: Pray, eat, read, play golf with other golfers at the golf club, come home, more prayers and sleep. Between that, I have the opportunity to attend board meetings and seminars, among others.
DT: Many retired generals own large libraries. What kind of books do you like reading? Maj-Gen.
Haruna: I am not only a retired General, I am also a lawyer and I have my law library, but with time, I could not afford the high cost of law books, but I have access to the internet. I read books on current developments, International Relations, national development, autobiographies, biographies of Nigerians who I have viewed and valued their contributions. I read newspapers when I can, I listen to debates on television, and more.
DT: If you hadn’t opted for a career in the military, what other field would you have excelled at? Maj-Gen.
Haruna: You know I joined the military at 14. In fact, when we were 18 and we passed out of school, we were told that we were not old enough to enter a contract as soldiers after our education, but we were not given the choice. I never stopped to think twice about any other profession because on my passing out from the NMS, I continued with full military career and I never had second thoughts. But if I had a choice, I would have pursued a career in social sciences, or Law.
DT: What is your favorite food, and how often do you indulge yourself? Maj-Gen. Haruna: I continue to enjoy Tuwon Shinkafa, Tuwon Masara, and pounded yam. I also like stew, Miyar Kuka, Miyar Taushe, and so on.
DT: What’s your favourite way to relax? Maj-Gen. Haruna: Reading, playing Scrabble and Chess. But presently, I play a lot of golf. w
My first son would have liked to join the military in the 70s. As a child, he used to wear military uniforms and played in the garden like a soldier. It was unfortunate when he saw his friend’s father, General Bissala, who was my contemporary with Murtala, on TV being accused of involvement in the 1976 coup. He saw his bosom friend’s father shot at the bar beach