OPINION

IS ARMY CHIEF LAGBAJA ON AWOL ?

By Abdulazeez Ahmed Kadir

AWOL means Absent Without Official Leave in the military parlance. 

In the last few weeks, on Radio, I often end my daily programme by asking of the whereabouts of Nigerian Chief of Army Staff; Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.

The Army Chief has been out of circulation for sometimes now. Considering the security challenges we are battling with, especially in the North West where the security agents, mostly the troops of the Nigerian Army have made inroads, you would have expected the Army Chief to be visible operation wise. But the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa is more visible on the operation fields.

The absence of Lagbaja at the last passing out of Cadets of the Nigerian Defence Academy NDA Kaduna and the independence celebrations at the Villa is unsettling. 

Lagbaja is known as an operational officer. His tenure as the General Officer Commanding GOC 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna was outstanding where he led from the front and was always in the trenches with the troops. 

Lagbaja is human and can be ill. He could decide to take a leave to rest. He could decide to attend to pressing family and personal issues. He should not be denied that.

But as a public figure and servant, and considering the morale boosting presence of the number one Nigerian Army officer, the military hierarchy should not keep Nigerians guessing about his absence. 

Except they want Nigerians to believe the rumours in circulation or that he has gone on AWOL.

Whatever the situation, Nigerians deserve to know better and formerly.

May God heal him and nurture him to great health, to return to his duty post, if he is ill as some rumour mill have it. 

This is no time to afford a vacuum for a sensitive position like the Army Chief.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NEWS

Image
THREE CONFIRMED DEAD IN A STRANGE DISEASE OUTBREAK AT NIGERIAN MILITARY SCHOOL ZARIA, OTHERS IN CRITICAL CONDITION  Officers and men of the Nigerian Army whose children and wards are enrolled in the Nigerian Military School Zaria were been sighted in their numbers in the school following outbreak of a strange disease and eventual dead of some students. They were their to pick their children and wards - Ideal Reporters gathered. A student died around 10:00 am Friday, to unknown ailments at the military facility. A parent revealed “Another boy died today, we now have 3 students in total who had died as of today. “Our children are no more safe, the army should come out to tell us what’s killing our children. Many are still in critical condition at ABUTH as we talk,” Some students are reportedly hospitalised at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital are said to be battling for survival. The unexpected incident had caused anxiety, leading to parents storming the military...
Read more

Exclusive

Image
THE ONDA EID SKIRMISHES, HON. MOHAMMED SANI OTTO AND THE FALSE NARRATIVE  My attention has been drawn to a viral video making the round on social media in which the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Trade, Industry and Investment, Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto was visibly sighted at Onda Eid Ground.  In the same video, one that was deliberately edited in part, to capture the area that presents a false narrative aimed at misinforming the unsuspecting public about what truly played out.  For the record, let me state that Hon. Mohammed Sani Otto chose to observe Eid-el Fitr prayer with his kinsmen at Onda, out of the love, respect and admiration he has for them, a usual disposition that characterizes him.  On getting to the Eid Ground, he was greeted by skirmishes involving loyalists of the Osu Onda, His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi Kuku and Alh. Usman Ode, a one time contender to the exalted throne of Osu, as both were on ground. Typical of traditional tussles, in...
Read more

Open Memo

Image
Memo to His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi A. Sule By Murtala Adogi Mohammed Subject: Strategic Recommendations for Nasarawa State’s Development Your Excellency, I commend your proactive decision to dissolve the Executive Council as part of efforts to reposition Nasarawa State for greater progress. This is an excellent opportunity to realign the state’s development priorities and governance structures. With the expiration of the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) in 2023, it is critical to establish a new development framework before appointing new commissioners.  I recommend setting up a Nasarawa State Development Council to review NEDS I and fast-track the development of NEDS II. This will guide commissioners in creating sectoral plans aligned with the state’s vision. Here are some quick actionable steps: 1. Develop NEDS II Create a four-year strategic plan focusing on youth and gender-responsive initiatives, tackling unemployment, education, healthcare, ...
Read more