The president-elect announced he would be dropping the
'General' title from his name come May 29th, a Lagos-based lawyer and rights
activist, Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, is threatening to sue him,arguing that it is
illegal and immoral.
“I shall file a suit before the Federal High Court or alternatively, to give up, pay back and restore, all the pensions, salaries and benefits that he has so far earned, either as a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army, or as a former military Head of State.”
The letter reads:
I have read the press statement of the President-elect of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.),
indicating that as from May 29, 2015, he would like to be addressed simply as
Muhammadu Buhari, without reflecting his official designation as a retired
officer in the Nigerian Army.
This is totally shocking, and rather unacceptable. I
therefore humbly urge all Nigerians to disregard this appeal from the
President-elect, as it is illegal and immoral, upon the following reasons.
1. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.) is the official
and legal status, title, designation and appellation of our dear
President-elect. He has no choice in the matter but to continue to carry this
cross, for life.
2. The military in Nigeria and the world over, is a
dignified professional institution, built upon the solid foundations of
discipline, selflessness, courage, dignity, loyalty and patriotism. It is an
institution that everyone should be proud of, except those of them who were
trained and equipped by this noble institution, but chose to capture civilian
power, through coup detat.
3. Under and by virtue of the Armed Forces Act, (s.25) a
retired army officer, such as the President-elect, is forever a part and parcel
of the Nigerian Army.
4. Under and by virtue of Paragraph 1(1) of the 1st Schedule
of the Armed Forces Pensions Act, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), is
entitled to and has indeed been receiving and benefiting from pension, as an
officer who held a regular commission, before his retirement.
5. Major-General Mohammadu Buhari (Retd.) illegally seized
power in Nigeria from an elected President, on December 31, 1983 and forcefully
crowned himself as Head of State. He forcefully held on to power for 1 year,
239 days, before he was also deposed on August 27, 1985, by General Ibrahim
Babangida (Retd.). He is thus a retired commissioned officer of the Nigerian
Army and he remains so for as long as he lives.
6. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.) attends the
Council of State meeting as former Head of State, which office he held in his
capacity as a Major-General.
7. Under and by virtue of section 1 of the Remuneration of
Former Presidents and Heads of State Act No. 32 of 1999, Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), is entitled to a very fat salary as pension, for
life. He is also entitled to the following benefits:
(i) Chief Administrative Officer of not less than Grade
Level 12;
(ii) Personal Secretary of not less than Grade Level 12;
(iii) Four armed policemen as his private security;
(iv) A top ranking State Security Service officer as his
Aide De Camp;
(v) Three official vehicles to be changed every four years;
(vi) Three drivers to be paid by Federal Government;
(vii) Diplomatic Passport for life;
(viii) Free medical treatment in Nigeria for himself and
members of his family;
(ix) Free medical treatment abroad for himself and members
of his family;
(x) Thirty days annual leave;
(xi) Well equipped and well furnished office accommodation;
(xii) Well equipped and well furnished living apartment, not
less than five bedroom duplex;
(xiii) Free telephone, etc.
8. The President-elect became entitled to all the above, by
virtue of his membership of the Nigerian Army; he became Head of State, by
virtue of his commission as an officer of the Nigerian Army and he has earned
these salaries and benefits as such, over the years, even when he contested
elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.
9. The moral question, involved in the President-elect’s
sudden change of status, is in the fact that he contested election and
canvassed for votes, from Nigerians and he was so voted for, as a retired
military general. He should continue to bear and carry that honourable title of
Major-General, for as long as he lives.
10. Thus, so long as Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.),
is earning his pensions from the Nigerian Army, so long as Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), is earning all his benefits as a former military Head
of State and so long as Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (Retd.), has not changed
his name and status in the way recognised by law, the good people of Nigeria,
in particular the Nigerian Army, are well urged to continue to address him as a
retired Major-General.
- PERSONAL APPEAL
From all the foregoing, I therefore humbly appeal to the
President-elect, to continue to bear his official name and status, by which he
once climbed to power. I do sincerely sympathise with the President-elect, on
the very sad and distasteful memories, that this title attracts to him, but it
is his cross to carry. Nigerians voted for him, in spite of his past and that
should be enough encouragement for him, to strive to erase any negative
impression, that it may have occasioned.
The best option for the President-elect, to erase those
memories from our hearts, is not by seeking to deny his past, but rather to use
his present position, to address the fundamental issues of corruption,
epileptic power supply, unemployment, insecurity, infrastructure development
and such other issues, that were the subject of his campaign promises.
- COURT CASE
Should the President-elect ignore this appeal, by insisting
on denying his past, whilst he continues to earn salaries and benefits through
the same rank that he seeks to jettison, I shall file a suit before the Federal
High Court, to seek an injunction to restrain the President-elect from denying
his official and legal titles, or alternatively, to give up, pay back and
restore, all the pensions, salaries and benefits that he has so far earned,
either a commissioned officer of the Nigerian Army, or as a former military
Head of State.
The problem facing Nigerians presently is not about
designation, titles or status, but rather that of fulfilment of all the
promises made during the campaigns.
WE WANT REAL CHANGE, NOW, NOW, NOW!
Thank you all. God bless Nigeria.
EBUN-OLU ADEGBORUWA, ESQ
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