By Chidi Omeje
One of the most profound sound bites from the Senate’s confirmation of Service Chiefs that took place on Wednesday was Gen Olufemi Oluyede’s description of what it takes to be a soldier.
According to him, the nobility of military profession is something to be reflected upon, respected and honoured by all and sundry.
In his words: “It takes a lot, almost a touch of madness to be a soldier. What do I mean? For a right thinking fellow, when there’s danger, he is expected to retreat but for a soldier, you are expected to face and tackle the danger.”
That singular expression captures the paradox and nobility of the military profession where courage often demands confronting death so that others might live in peace. For me, it was not mere rhetoric from the Defence Czar. It was the reflection of a deeply rooted philosophy, one that places the soldier, the human being behind the uniform, at the center of military effectiveness.
For the former Army Chief who is known for his undeniable love for the soldiers and has made the welfare of the soldier the fulcrum of his command philosophy, Gen Oluyede certainly spoke from the heart.
In his ‘Soldier first’ concept, he espoused the prioritization of soldiers’ welfare over and above everything and insisted that without the soldier, there’s no military. By extrapolation, if the soldier is not well-catered for in terms of his welfare, combat enablers and the right psychological atmosphere with which to operate, he will not produce the desired results and consequently, the essence of the military as an institution mandated to defend the country would have been defeated.
And so at the Senate confirmation, the now confirmed 19th Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Oluyede, spoke with every sense of responsibility and did not mince words about the financial realities of Nigeria’s defense apparatus.
He made it very clear that the military is not adequately funded for the scale and complexity of the security challenges confronting the nation. From the unending fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast, to the raging banditry in the Northwest and North Central, violent separatist agitations and unknown gun men phenomenon in the South East and attacks on our maritime assets in the Niger Delta region, our military is stretched thin.
What they require are modern combat enablers, intelligence infrastructure, adequate logistics, and welfare support. They are necessities for optimal performance of our soldiers and ultimately operational successes, and without them, even the bravest soldier is left vulnerable.
He therefore solicited the understanding of the legislators for better budgetory and extra budgetory allocations for the military if the serious internal security challenges assailing the country are to be contained and surmounted.
One could sense the passion in his submission and it resonated deeply with the discerning.
Supporting the military goes beyond government budgets and official rhetoric. It is actually a moral duty that every Nigerian must embrace.
Our troops are not strangers; they are our brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. They come from every tribe, speak every language, and share in the same hopes for a safer and stronger Nigeria.
It is therefore incumbent on us as citizens to advocate for better funding and welfare for our troops; to show moral support through respect and empathy for their sacrifices. It is also up to us avoid unfair criticism or public denigration of the military based on isolated missteps.
We must as a people, appreciate their daily heroism, often carried out in harsh, life-threatening conditions.
I wish the new Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs, a successful tour of duty.
May God bless our troops!
Chidi Omeje is the Publisher of Security Digest