According to the report from the Sun News, Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd), has shared his perspectives on addressing insecurity in Nigeria, particularly focusing on kidnapping, banditry, and the Boko Haram insurgency. He also provided insights on the role of the military in governance.
Reflecting on his career, General Agwai emphasized his distance from political appointments: "First and foremost, I thank God that throughout my almost 40 years in the military, I really never held any political appointment."
He expressed confusion about the military's perception of itself as an alternate government, stating, "I have always been finding it difficult to understand why the military will feel that they are the alternate government, that if the civilian government is not performing, you will have the moral, or the constitutional—not the constitutional because there is nowhere in the constitution that says if a government does not perform, the military should come in."
General Agwai questioned the moral authority and preparedness of the military to govern: "So, what gives the military the feeling, the moral high ground to do it? That is one. Two, has their training prepared them to run a government?"
He cited India as a successful democracy that has never experienced military rule, "One of the largest democracies in the world today is India. India has never had a military rule and India can survive. And today, whether you like it or not, India is on the road to becoming a world power."
To illustrate his point, he recounted an experience from his tenure as Chief of Army Staff, "In 2006, when I was the Chief of Army Staff, I intentionally requested from the government and I got the approval to invite the Chief of Army Staff of India to visit us.
He visited us for a week, he had talks with senior, middle-rank officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the question I put to him was, General Sir, what I want you to discuss with my people is that why is it that Indian military has never taken over government? Are there no mistakes?"
General Agwai suggested that Nigeria might have benefitted from uninterrupted democratic practice, "Maybe if the military had not stepped in to rule in Nigeria, maybe things would have been a little bit different because the politicians would have made their mistakes and learn from their mistakes and we would have known the value of democracy by now if we have been practising it for 60 years."
He emphasized the importance of electoral integrity and public accountability, "People who are electing leaders would have been perfect now that nobody will sell their votes. And they will know that they will have the power to remove and put people into position."
General Agwai's reflections underscore the necessity of a sustained and undisturbed democratic process, allowing for growth and learning within the civilian governance framework, while highlighting the military's role as supportive rather than as an alternative government.