RE: COAS as Missed Opportunity for Unity, by Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada
POLITICS DIGEST– I recently read an article by one Farooq Kperogi, a Professor in Kennesaw State University, Georgia, where he criticised the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff as a missed opportunity for uniting Nigeria.
It’s so sad that the likes of Kperogi who perpetually fails to see anything good in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, is shamelessly politicising the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff and reducing such a sensitive appointment to ethnic and religious matter.
Here is a man who has cashed in on criticizig this government as an opportunity to become more popular and garner acceptability by the people of the southern region.
Kperogi hide under the umbrella of those that speak the truth to power but ends up ridiculing himself after being fed by fake stories that may incite violence.
This is against the so called unity he’s advocating for in his ill informed article.
In the said article, Kperogi was accusing the Personal Assistant to the President, Sabiu Tunde, of interference in the work of the Chief of Staff Ibrahim Gambari.
Both of them are appointees of the President with no constitutional power. While Gambari is discharging his responsibility effectively and is in cordial relationship with Sabiu Tunde; the writer of the article was busy trying to create some fictitious scenerio that never existed.
I heard from reliable sources that Gambari is doing his job without any interference and has access to the President anytime he so wishes without any obstacle as Kperogi alleged.
Sabiu Tunde whom the writer is accusing of being so powerful in the villa has never responded to malicious allegations like this as it started right from the few weeks Buhari assumed office as President.
An international Professor of repute like Ibrahim Gambari cannot be controlled as the writer was alleging.
Since his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Nigeria is reclaiming it’s misused glories. Who is more qualified than Gambari as Chief of Staff?
He’s seen always in public function with the President and the appointees of this government can testify to Gambari’s competence and dedication to service.
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Sabiu Tunde, a personal aide to the President, has a role that differs completely from that of the Chief of Staff and there has so far been no evidence in whatsoever form, where the Chief of Staff was seen or heard complaining of Tunde’s interference.
Why i will not trust or believe in such kind of allegations is that it came from someone that has written so many things about this government that turned out to be fake.
The most funniest of his fake news is where he alleged that Col. Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser to President Jonathan died in DSS custody, the story turned out to be fake after a close aide of the former NSA Yushau Shuaib debunked it and Kperogi shamelessly retracted and took down the post in all his social media handles. What a shame!
This enough should make people to stop taking this writer and advocate of fake news serious.
As a Professor of Communication, Kperogi should have learned the effect of spreading fake news and the need of verifying stories before sending it to the public.
The University where this fake news promoter is lecturing should have terminated his appointment for such reasons as he has brought the institution to disrepute.
A University Professor and scholar of communication should learn the language of sending message to the public with emotional intelligence without attempting or trying to incite violence.
His article has no other motive than to incite violence in the south east for the reason of not taking their native as the new Chief of Army Staff.
Security issues like appointments should be made based on merit not on ethnic or religious background.
This is where Kperogi goofed. He has testified the track record of professionalism and academic preparedness of the new Chief of Army Staff Major General Farouk Yahaya. Then what’s the criticism of his appointment all about since he’s qualified for the job?
Whatever, Nigerians are after the person that will bring the problem of insurgency to an end not concerned with where the COAS comes from; wherever his state is; the question should be that, is he qualified for the job?
It is our hope that Yahaya is ready for the job and Generals like Ahonotu will join hands with him in saving the sovereignty of this country Nigeria.
Kennsaw University in Georgia should know that Kperogi is using its name to spread lies and fake news that will incite violence and worsen the unity of this country Nigeria.
Adnan Mukhtar Tudunwada is a University Lecturer and Journalist, he writes from Kano
