Lessons of Badeh’s murder
Of Nigerians, the death of Badeh and the hypocrisy of political correctness ...
In this column last week, I wrote that even without former US president Obama’s advice to Nigerians to ‘open a new chapter’, our former president, Goodluck Jonathan was destined to lose the 2105 general elections. I argued that sins of commission and omission, committed under his leadership, were enough to make Nigerians wish to dump him; and that
Iam an ex-service man and I have no sorrow or pity over the death of Badeh, unfortunately. It is high time we as a people (Nigerians) understand hubris and retribution. Many people die by the day or suffer everlasting losses because of people who lived in privilege of public trust and abused it. It was during Badeh and his co-traveller Service Chiefs that the worst of avoidable deaths happened to several service men and women. It was during their time that the worst of equipment were supplied and some not supplied at all, while public funds were siphoned for personal aggrandizement.
It was during his tenure that Maiduguri Air Force Base was attacked by Boko Haram and priceless aircraft and equipment were destroyed. Not a few months down the line, Badeh was made Chief of Defence Staff through the political conspiracy of some heartless politicians. In a serious country, when such loss happens under your command, you face a court marshal and not an elevation to higher responsibility.
It was during his time that parties, frolicking and debauchery were the order of day in Yola, on the eve of the burial of soldiers and officers who died in combat. The service of several professionally- the biggest sin of all was how he and his lieutenants handled the insurgency.
This last point seems to be gaining currency, in the past few days, ever since the unfortunate killing of former Defence Chief, Air Marshall Alex Badeh. I find two of those opinion pieces worth repeating here. Please read on: minded and hardworking officers was cut short because they posed a threat. Badeh would appear in court arrogant and all, because he was privileged to have held high office, in spite of the clear evidence of theft sited in all corners of Abuja and other choice Nigerian cities. Today, the Armed Forces is still reeling from the bad leadership of his like. We have young widows and children who will never know their fathers. I do not sympathize over his death and honestly owe no one any apologies. I pray more divine examples are made of his likes.
Meanwhile, no one should make a comparison between people like Badeh and late Maj Gen Alkali, they are morally and professionally at two opposite extremes. May Allah forgive Alkali and reward him with Jannah. Ameen! Badeh is going to have a well funded and celebrated military burial, just like the prompt Air Force elaborate announcement of his death. Those who died in Metele, Gudumbali, Molai, et al had not been formally announced, just like the deaths of Wing Commander Hedema and his fellow Group Captain who were captured and beheaded by Boko Haram were also not announced or honoured by the military establishment. It was during Baden’s leadership that the existing decision to quietly bury our deceased service men in Maiduguri and Yola, away from public knowledge was taken. Why should I mourn his death?