Apart from the violence that ultimately marred the peaceful protest in some parts of the country, the 10-day nationwide hunger protest known as #EndBadGovernance, which took place from August 1st to August 10th, 2024, has come and gone, but there are undoubtedly some observations worth making regarding the management of what would have turned the entire country into a theatre of war of some sort.
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Although it is debatable whether the Nigeria Police Force, which is in charge of internal security, was up to the task of preventing a complete breakdown of law and order that would have required the full engagement of the military, it is noteworthy that the military, led by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa, demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and adherence to democratic principles throughout the protest.
The professionalism exhibited by the CDS amply supported the remarks made by his immediate predecessor, Lt. Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), who stated in June 2023, upon transferring command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to General Christopher Musa, that Nigerians need not be concerned about the operational effectiveness and administrative discipline of the AFN.
At the event, General Irabor said he had turned the reins over to a tried and trusted commander who was, by all accounts, a model for the armed services, while also asking his successor to make sure the military’s values and professional standards were respected.
In his words, “I appreciate the president for finding Major-General Musa very suitable to take over the reins of the Armed Forces. I ask that you redouble your efforts so that orderliness and our cherished values and professional standard be maintained.”
He continued by saying that a good deal had been accomplished and that he was sure the military forces were in the correct frame of mind to meet their goals. One could easily attest to the fact that General Musa lived up to his billings during the nationwide hunger protest, which in some quarters was expected to end in a massive crisis that would have ultimately required a military putsch, if these suggestions and warnings from the former Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Irabor, are anything to go by.
In the days preceding the demonstration, there were many rumours that the military might seize control of the nation after the protest started. During these difficult times, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, led by General Musa, consistently rejected these rumours as baseless. The CDS did not waver in its repeated emphasis that the Armed Forces, which are under his command, are unwavering in their conviction in the democratic government of the nation in the modern era.
He had previously warned that, while the demonstration organisers had every right to voice their opposition to the hardships facing the nation, their protests could not go beyond the bounds of the constitution because the freedom to demonstrate does not include the use of violence or treason. According to media quotes, he acknowledged the demonstrators’ “grievances” on the severe economic circumstances facing the nation, but he insisted that they be understanding.
He then gave a press conference where he beseeched Nigerians to stand together in “these trying times” and issued a warning against property damage and theft in addition to lamenting the theft of assets in several regions of the nation. It is on record that during the protest, the Armed Forces of Nigeria under his direction demonstrated professionalism.
The military’s capacity to safeguard people’s lives and property, defuse already-existing tensions in the nation, and advance the rule of law was exceptional. The military’s actions, which are typically associated with violence and brutality, were only possible due to the sophisticated leadership exemplified by General Christopher Musa.
As a way of de-escalating the nationwide tension during the protest, the CDS apart from subtly giving an indication of what the military would do if the situation went beyond the capacity of the police, literarily took on the toga of a priest to sermonize that the economic crisis and high cost of living in Nigeria is a global phenomenon. He asked Nigerians to be patient and allow the government to deal with the issues.
In his words, “We want to call on all Nigerians to understand the government. If you have grievances, which I know people have, a lot of challenges here and there, and it is not only in Nigeria alone; everywhere in the world is facing one economic or security crisis or the other. And so, it is important to understand that we are not alone. He added that “what we can do is not allow criminals and individuals that have lost out to take advantage of this to destroy our country. We should realize that these destructions, monies have to be used to replace them so that we can move forward.”
General Musa’s actions demonstrated that he is not only a professional soldier who adheres to the rules of engagement in life-threatening or warlike situations, but also an astute statesman who understands the financial consequences of the public’s willingness to allow criminals to use protests as an opportunity to destroy infrastructure that has cost enormous sums of money to build.
Clearly, his sermon was motivated more by a desire to avert a potentially catastrophic event, like as the military’s 2020 EndSARS executions in Lagos, than by a fear of facing down the angry demonstrators.
Thus, I have to express my gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff for his bravery and selfless service in the face of hardship.
The Nigerian population has evidently shown him gratitude and admiration for this. General Musa has genuinely shown that he is a sincere defender of peace and stability, and Nigerians should continue to honour him for his noble service.
