Chidi Omeje
12 July 2009
analysis
Lagos — Striding intrepidly into the magnificent Headquarters of the United Nations in New York recently to discuss his country's roles in the global peacekeeping efforts with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike cut a perfect picture of an accomplished chivalric.
Not that he is any less: here is a four-star General whose command and control experience is defined by firmness and clarity of purpose; a man of few words who is never known to be distracted by the inanity of prevarication or the prolixity of an orator; leader of a highly respected Armed Forces that has distinguished itself in Peace Support Operation. On this day, his gait truly bespoke his confidence and disposition. Though details of his discussion with the UN officiary were not made public, pundits were not in doubt as to the crux and exigencies of that meeting.
Why, Nigeria's military might and distinguished professional competence in the sensitive area of Peace Support Operation (PSO) has earned her the enviable but burdensome role of a linchpin among African militaries in regional and continental peacekeeping undertakings. Ceaselessly infested with humanitarian tragedies occasioned by outbreaks of mindless internecine conflagration fuelled by corrupt leadership, Africa is undeniably a theatre of crises with the inevitability of peacekeeping interventions. Here's our checklist: Darfur in southern Sudan, merciless Janjaweed militia group aided by Government Forces are unrelenting in their determination to exterminate the local population, leaving in their wake an unspeakable humanitarian disaster. There is a Somalia where the total breakdown of the institution of government has not only thrown up splinter groups of blood thirsty Islamic fundamentalists who are unleashing terror on the hapless populace but have also given impetus to deadly pirates who pose formidable obstacle to international maritime activities. We have Congo DR where the activities of insurgents and the intervention of the Rwandan Forces have contrived to create a disastrous refugee situation. Not forgetting Liberia where the post war stabilization efforts present a tough challenge requiring the presence of peacekeepers. These are but few flashpoints of conflict in Africa that can easily degenerate into humanitarian catastrophe.
At the moment, Nigeria, the true arrow-head in regional and continental peacekeeping efforts in Africa, not only has a formidable presence in Sudan under the auspices of the United Nations, her distinguished military officer and former CDS, Gen ML Agwai is the Force Commander of the multi-national hybrid peacekeeping force named UNAMID (United Nations Mission in Darfur). The country also maintains some battalions of soldiers (and a detachment of Police) in Liberia under the auspices of United Nations to assist that country in her post-war re-building and stabilization challenges.
Aside from those countries where she maintains formed troops, Nigeria equally has some of her military officers on observer mission (MILOBs) in several strife-turn countries across the world including, Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, western Sahara, Cote d'ivore, Sierra Leone, Nepal, Georgia, etc. Even though a clear picture of her stance on the dangerously degenerating situation in Somalia has not yet emerged, it is clear that Nigeria indeed possesses a sterling peacekeeping credential which she must leverage on to burnish her image and reputation in the eyes of the international community. Yes, through the indomitable spirit of her military, Nigeria has shown her goodness by sacrificing the lives of her soldiers just to keep peace in other troubled climes.
If we agree therefore that the current national re-branding project being orchestrated by Prof Dora Akunyili and her team is one of the defining touchstones in our collective desire to wilfully create a new and appropriate image for Nigeria, then we must also concede the fact that no institution in Nigeria has of late done the country proud in terms of creating desired national brand than the Nigerian Armed Forces. Can any body truly jettison the personal sacrifices of members of the Nigerian Armed Forces who in actual sense have been re-branding Nigeria through their sterling professional performance and good conduct in peace support operations in various countries in Africa and beyond? The truth is that Nigerian Military as a thorough professional force has been in the fore front of re-branding the battered image of Nigeria even before this current drive.
Apart from its excellent performance in global peacekeeping efforts, the personnel of Nigerian Armed Forces have also largely conducted themselves in a manner that is quite supportive of the emerging democratic credentials of our country (irrespective of any isolated misdemeanor of a few of its members) . These are expressed in their various interventions in internal security challenges confronting the country, particularly the tempestuous situation in the Niger Delta. The Joint Task Force (JTF) established by the Defence Headquarters has been indispensable in the maintenance of law and order in that region. Have we stopped to think of how much insecurity, lawlessness and of course divestments that would have characterized that area (which undoubtedly is the epicenter of Nigeria's economy) if the Defence Headquarters did not put her officers and men in the harm's way?
Omeje wrote from Abuja.
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