Buhari, Obasanjo and past of 2 Generals: My Story, by Joshua Olayemi

The DEFENDER stumbled over this piece and considers it germane in the discourse of the past of some of Nigeria’s leaders in enabling Nigerians of present day life to be rightly guided about them. Two points therein: Obasanjo did a bad to a Fulani man but the Fulani man, Col. M. Muhari refused escalate the misdeeds of the Yoruba Military Head of State to pay back on a younger innocent other Yoruba person. Two, even the injustice being corrected by the Fulani officer, Buhari, in favour of the younger Yoruba man was inflicted by another Yoruba officer. This explains why not many Yoruba accept the ethnic and religious politics going on from the gang up elements, whose past are now in the public knowledge, against President Muhammadu Buhari, who continues to enjoy the goodwill of Nigerians who now bring the records of his enigmatic past to the knowledge of all. Excerpts:

The Colonel Buhari saw my name: Olayemi Joshua— Christian Yoruba– yet he proceeded to correct the injustice done to me. It was later I realized it was the then Chief Pharmacist of the army, a Yoruba man, who was the brain behind this injustice.

It was a bright Monday morning on 27th July 1978, when God arranged a chance or accidental meeting between me and then Colonel M.Buhari.

I had, with high hope, gone to the Army Headquarters Victoria Island, to collect my Commissioning Letter into the Nigeria Army as a full Lieutenant to be posted as a Graduate Pharmacist to the Nigeria Army Medical Corps.

As I was directed to the office of one Captain Mshebwala, I saw him and introduced myself and my mission.

He immediately gave me a prepared letter of commission with a rank of Second Lieutenant. I protested, and made effort to explain to him that my rank of commission should be full Lieutenant, but he refused to listen and declared that I should take it or leave it!

I became furious and tore the letter into pieces in his presence, and fumed out of his office, abusing the generation of those responsible for the injustice!

It was while negotiating the bend at d last building at the Army Headquarters that I bumped, like a charging bull, into an incoming senior Army Officer!

My speed and power were so ferocious that this slender and tall senior officer had to jump out of my sight into safety!

On my part, I was surprised at the wonderful reflex action displayed by this senior Army Officer!

I proceeded to offer my profound apology. But then God made him to look at my face and he saw my anger and hurt.

Immediately he asked: “My friend, what is your problem?”.

As a student leader and activist of the University of Ife, I boldly told him that I was disappointed that there was no coordination in Nigeria, and the Army of all places…!

Before I could proceed further, he ordered me to follow him. An inner voice told me to follow him without hesitation.

Surprisingly he entered an office adjacent to the one I just left furiously. He sat behind the modest table in that office and asked me to sit on the 3-seater directly facing his table. He then told me to explain what happened.

I told him how I had read in the Daily Times that the Nigeria army wanted to commission graduate Pharmacists and Doctors. That the Doctors would be commissioned as full Lieutenants while the Pharmacists would be second Lieutenants.

I was disgusted and decided to write a letter of protest on the letter head of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) to the Army Headquarters.

Surprisingly and pleasantly, the Army HQ not only sent me a reply to my letter but went ahead to publish a corrigendum in the Daily Times.

The new Publication clarified thus:

Both Doctors and Pharmacists would be commissioned as full Lieutenants. After the one year of Housemanship, the Doctors would be promoted Substantive Captains while the Pharmacists would wait for one year after their Internship to be promoted S.Captains.

When I read the letter to my classmates (we were in the final year) we were all elated, and about 80% of us decided to apply.

I was therefore shocked to be given a letter of commission of 2nd Lieutenant that morning as if the Army had reneged on the agreement.
Before I could proceed further I noticed the Colonel Buhari had become equally angry with what had happened.

He pressed the bell on his table and his orderly came in. He ordered him to call Capt. Mshebwala. When the latter came in, the Colonel Buhari, pointing to me, told the Captain: “This young man is a full Lieutenant, you will bring another commissioning letter for me to sign. I thought I was dreaming!

In less than five minutes, the Captain had brought a stencil for the Colonel Buhari to sign and in less than another five minutes, the Captain brought me two small brown envelopes and declared ” this envelope is for you, the other envelope is for your Corps headquarters “.

With trembling hands I opened the envelope the Captain called my own. I saw my name and my new rank of full Lieutenant!

I looked at the Colonel Buhari and told him: ” I’m grateful sir. May I know who you are?”

He retorted: “It’s not necessary, you must be disciplined, we don’t talk the way you talk, in the Army”.

I quickly replied him: ” Sir, not when my Professional right is being trampled upon “!

At this juncture, he just faced the papers on his table, meaning he had finished his assignment with me.

The Colonel Buhari saw my name: Olayemi Joshua— Christian Yoruba– yet he proceeded to correct the injustice done to me.

It was later I realized it was the then Chief Pharmacist of the army, a Yoruba man, who was the brain behind this injustice.

He was a diploma degree holder, so he felt his position threatened by in flux of Commissioned University Graduate Pharmacists. Hence ,in his reasoning, the wider the gap in rank between him and these ” young rascals ” the less likely for the Army to retire him soon!

Incidentally, that Monday of 27th July 1978, was Colonel Buhari’s first day in office as Military Secretary (Army).
It was like the first like the first duty thieving General Obasanjo hurriedly performed as Military Head of State after taking over from no nonsense General Murtala Mohammed of blessed memory!

The then Col. Buhari was Chairman NNPC, a position he held with high sense of patriotism!

There was no way General Obasanjo could steal one dime from NNPC if Col. Buhari was still in charge. Hence his hurried posting back to the barracks. I became a beneficiary of the “bad belle”!

If Buhari were to be vindictive, he would not have expressly taken that action that was to benefit another Yoruba man.

Fighting injustice and oppression is in the GENE of now President M.Buhari.

Hence no amount of blackmail or threat can deter him!
— J.J.OLAYEMI
Okene.
Kogi State.