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My first reaction to the news was that, Marwa's proclamation was to keep on shielding those that pillaged the National Treasury not to be exposed. The continuation of the Military Presidents would possibly cover up the loot of the public treasury, and no one could say anything to them. Generals Babangida, Abdulsalam, and Buhari REFUSED to testify before Oputa Commission and nothing happened to them. If the Generals REFUSED to appear before the Oputa Commission, how would they (Generals) respect and uphold the Nigerian Constitution? They considered themselves to be above the law. The issue with the Nigerian Generals has been summarized by the Chairman of Oputa Commission, Hon. Justice Chukwudifu A. Oputa, CFR, Justice Emeritus Supreme Court of Nigeria, that "To forgive and to reconcile is not necessarily to deny justice". The Generals MUST face justice. Their struggle to take the cudgel from President Obasanjo is a way of running away from justice.

Reading the news item further, Marwa claims that "a person with the military background would have an edge over others", given what he described as the orientation and nature of training of military officers. By simple equation, it will allow them to loot the treasury and bastardize the Nigerian society once again.

More disturbing about this statement is the claim that "he (Obasanjo) did not just walk into the Aso Rock villa". Which means that the approach of the Military in their intervention on the democratic process has been through the back door? Obasanjo was installed in 1999 and he turned around to install himself through the back door again, with massive rigging. Anambra confession and the court ruling on Ogun State 2003 election confirmed the backdoor politics of the Military.

Some Nigerians are of the opinion that Marwa was a good Governor, who did not steal money. No one is accusing anyone of stealing money, but the question remains, Nigerians would like to know sources of his wealth after leaving Lagos State governorship. Once again, I am not saying he stole the public money, but how was he able to come up with his wealth to start an airline operation in Nigeria. Come on, did the money come from his retirement benefits, or was it from his savings, in Nigeria of very high class society, where public officials could spend their salaries in one day. Where is the savings coming from? Sources of wealth of the retired Generals that qualify them to lead Nigeria with their "leadership qualities" leave much puzzle for decent Nigerians to ponder about.

There have been some misconceptions about the political process in some advanced countries, especially the role of military service in aspiring for political positions, especially the Presidential candidates, in the United States. According to Marwa,

"Any person who retires from military service and becomes the president, takes along with him, the leadership qualities {to steal, and abuse human rights} which were part of the training in the military, the discipline and the patriotism. There is no profession throughout the history of mankind that has stood out in sacrifice and nobility than the military {making them above the law}. If you go through history, you discover that it is the military that has always been the guarantor of state security and it has always strived to preserve the family system {of looters}."

He went on to state that,

"It is for this reason that in other civilized societies, it becomes a problem if you seek high political office without having gone through military service. We must recognise these things and give the military its due. If you served your beat and in retirement, you believe you are capable or you have been requested to serve in a higher capacity, I believe you should have the moral right to stand up and take the challenge".

The ways and manners Nigerians follow the United States democratic process leaves much to be desired. United States has matured over the years with its system, based on their environment and circumstances to institute their style of democracy. The system is not perfect yet, and it may never be perfect, but it is solid. The foundation of the United States system was based on their teething circumstances when they emigrated from Europe to settle in North America.

Nigeria should fashion its own democratic style based on its culture, circumstances and environment. That is the only way by which Democracy can survive in Nigeria. It is not by mere copying the American system blindly, using military background for Presidential aspirants that would make Nigeria move forward in improving the lots of the people. In the process, Nigeria would be in a position to discard what is not needed and keep what is good for the country, from the American system.

Marwa should note that, because USA uses military service as one of the criteria for selecting their leaders, does not mean that Nigeria should use that same yardstick. The circumstances are different. United States worked through the selection process, professionally, not through greed by which Nigerian Military approach their public service. I am not saying that no military man could vie for any position in the political process in Nigeria, but using that like fishing bait is not what Nigerians should accept.

Nigerians should resist any military man becoming the next Nigerian President. Unfortunately, I see quit a number of butterflies in the veins of Nigerians, that could make them fall for any military person, who has the money. In a civilized society, Atiku should have been given the opportunity, because he has gone through the orientation with Obasanjo since 1999 till date. That does not mean that Atiku could not be challenged. Mind you, once again, nothing is wrong with any Nigerian aspiring for any political position in Nigeria.

The military have bastardized the system, from all testimonies, their life styles, and arrogance in the society; they should 'step aside' from meddling with the democratic process for proper reform in Nigeria. The Oputa report has unveiled the Military dubious masks of governance and indignity.

According to Oputa Commission's report, Synoptic Overview of Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (HRVIC) Report: Conclusions and Recommendations, Section 1.52, p. 14, reveals that:

"Military rule is absolute rule. It subverts and undermines the institutions of the State, imperceptibly initially but surely and gradually. It leads inevitably to moral and political corruption, alongside the decay of time-honoured loyalties and values as well as institutional decay. In due course and as a manifestation of this deepening decay, cruelty and murder become norms of governance. Good faith and truthfulness become childish scruples while force and craft become the keys to success. Selfishness, naked and unadorned, need only succeed to supply its own justification."

Section 88, p. 35, also states:

"From the evidence before us, we hold that military rule has proved to be a cure that was worse than the disease. This much was admitted or conceded by military officers who appeared before the Commission."

Section 89, p. 35, reads:

"It is plausible to argue that that in its heydays, military rule was indeed propelled by patriotism and the need to set Nigeria on a sound footing. Tragically, we all now know that things have worked differently. Military rule has left, in its wake, a sad legacy of human rights violations, stunted national growth, a corporatist and static state, increased corruption, destroying its own internal cohesion in the process of governing, and posing the greatest threat to democracy and national integration.

Section 90, p. 35 reacts:

Clearly, the military are to be held accountable for gross human rights violations in the country, during the period under review. This is exemplified by cases of torture at the Intercentre, DMI headquarters in Lagos and Jos". And Section 4 reveals that: The military had operated under a cloud of secrecy in many respects. What is more, except for some celebrated individuals who were prominent in society, the majority of victims who were not so well known languished in jails and detention centers without any mention by the media. They lived under very harsh and inhuman conditions. The public hearings gave them and the society a chance to hear their stories."

According to Oputa report, Babangida and Abdulsalami have some questions to answer about the death of Dele Giwa, and Abiola respectively. Here is what Oputa panel revealed in Chapter Three, Sections 97-100, pp. 88-89:

"Recommendations:

97 The Commission also wishes to state as follows:

i. On General Muhammad Buhari, the Commission is of the view that the General has a case to answer in regard to the killing of the three young men referred to in the petition brought by the Kenneth Owoh family. There was overwhelming evidence to show that the execution of the three young men fell well outside the time frame allowed by the Decree under which they were tried. We therefore recommend that the General tender an unreserved apology to the families of the deceased. We equally hold accountable the Supreme Military Council of General Muhammadu Buhari that confirmed the brutal execution of the three young men. We therefore hold the then Supreme Military Council accountable.

98. On General Ibrahim Babangida, we are of the view that there is evidence to suggest that he and the two security chiefs, Brigadier General Halilu Akilu and Col. A. K. Togun are accountable for the death of Dele Giwa by letter bomb. We recommend that this case be re-open for further investigation in the public interest.

99. On the government of General Abdusalami Abubakar, the case against him had already been well argued by one of the witnesses, Col Idenhere, who testified in the case. Although he was not directly mentioned in the death of Chief Abiola, the inconsistency in the testimony of his Chief Security Officer, Lt Col Aliyu show that the Government of the day knows much more about the circumstances leading to the death of the chief. We therefore recommend that that government is accountable.

100. By refusing to appear before the Commission, they denied themselves the wonderful opportunity of explaining to Nigerians what happened in each case, like General T. Y. Danjuma and Dr. Walter Ofonagoro did."

The report further revealed that during the Military rule in Nigeria,

"most of our rulers' principal motivation and pre-occupation were not service to country but the accumulation of wealth and personal gratification. This personal accumulation of wealth led to the decay of our society. Public and private morality reached its nadir; and the casualties included human dignity, human rights and our basic freedoms. We also experienced institutional and structural decay."

Amazingly, some Nigerians in Diaspora went to Minna to meet with General Babangida for vision 007. This act, especially by Nigerians in Diaspora is, to say the least despicable, nauseating, and pathetic. How did Babangida entertain his august visitors from the United States of America on Vision 007? He took them out for launch and every one of them paid for their meals. Maradona at his best game again, making a fool out of his august visitors, canvassing for him to run in 2007. It was my understanding that one of the delegates was ruined by Babangida when he worked for him, and migrated to the United States. When will Nigerians learn their lessons? Never! There are plenty of rooms at Aro Mental Hospital, Abeokuta, and Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos. My-sister-in-law, who is the Medical Director at Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, would attend to these crops of Nigerians with mental dislocation to repair the damage to their reasoning faculty.

If the retired Generals have those leadership skills as portrayed by General Marwa, to appear before the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission was very hard for them. So Brig. Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd.) should not give Nigerians the option that Presidential aspirants SHOULD have military background. There is nothing wrong for him contesting for the Presidential position in Nigeria. I understand that he was a good man, a 'decent' Military Governor of Babangida's family of 'made in Minna' products.

Did I promise not to be too critical of the Nigerian leaders in 2005, you bet.

Have a good Year.