Still on Danjuma’s gaffe

Many Nigerians respect Gen. Danjuma for the wrong reasons. Those in the public domain, including those in the military, see him as a “tough, no-nonsense officer”, who “hardly smiles”. The reality is a lot different, though. Danjuma is probably one of the worst human beings that Taraba, “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”, has produced. Those […]

Many Nigerians respect Gen. Danjuma for the wrong reasons. Those in the public domain, including those in the military, see him as a “tough, no-nonsense officer”, who “hardly smiles”. The reality is a lot different, though. Danjuma is probably one of the worst human beings that Taraba, “Nature’s Gift to the Nation”, has produced.

Those who know him well agree that he is an extremely wicked, selfish, and unpredictable person. His colleagues in the Nigerian Army should be able to attest to his sheer personal wickedness, whenever they may be required to attest.

That he is selfish is attested to by the fact that in spite of his nationally- renowned wealth, (most of it ill-gotten), Gen. Danjuma has nothing in Taraba State. It was only when his unfortunate political thugs insisted that he built a shack which he tagged the “TY Danjuma Foundation”. This so-called Foundation has not done anything for the people of Taraba State. His selfishness is also reflected in the fact that  he has not invested anything in Taraba State- not in industry, or agriculture, or the services. He has often chosen to support his wife’s political career (his wife is from Edo State) rather than that of the teeming political activists from his constituency. He has sided with the Chamba/Jukun faction of the population of Takum and tried to run down the Kuteb.

Gen. Danjuma is now engaged with people such as prof. Jerry Gana and Senator Jonathan Zwingina in the creation of a “Middle Belt” political entity. Both Jerry Gana and Sen. Zwingina were named as ministers in the declaration of the Independent Republic of Biafra in 2017.I do not know what the security agencies of this country have done about this. I am also not aware if the concerned persons, namely Prof. Jerry Gana, and Senator Jonathan Zwingina have issued disclaimers dissociating themselves from the seditious declaration.

Gen. Danjuma’s utterances at the Taraba State University, Jalingo, on March 23 amount to hate speech and a declaration of war. The good youth of Taraba State have reacted by jeering at the general’s entourage on its way out. The Army Headquarters has also criticized Danjuma for his allegation that the Nigerian Army is conniving with the herdsmen. It should, however, go further to dismiss and demobilize him.

The Federal Government must go beyond its weak-kneed reaction. It must arrest and try Gen. TY Danjuma for sedition. That alone will reassure Nigerians that no one is above the Law.

Omar Saleh, Abuja, Salehomar@[email protected]