Over the years, Nigeria’s military built a fearsome reputation. This reputation was not earned solely by the large expanse of land it controlled or its demographic strength, rather it combined these factors with its military might which had been proven within and outside the shores of the country.

From its engagement in the Belgian Congo in the 1960s were it performed admirably in helping bring down the Katanga revolt, to its sterling performance in Liberia and Sierra Leone in the 1990s, this reputation was well deserved. This despite its involvement in our political life.

But in recent times, the Nigerian military is beginning to lose its shine and glory, due to the incursion of politicians into its daily activities, and the involvement of military men in political circles.

Both situations playing out in the military and appear to be depriving the Nigerian military of its glory. To put it in simple terms, the re-politicization of the military after 16 years on the sidelines is currently in full swing. The military as a hallmark of every nation’s defense strategy is an institution whose raison d’être should strictly be protecting the interest of the state above all other things.

This principal responsibility of the military should be carried out in a non-partisan manner devoid of ethnic or tribal sentiment and other divisive tendencies that could undermine the integrity of the nation.

In the light of the shared thoughts on what an ideal military should be, can the same now be said of the Nigerian military?

Prior to the return of democracy and civil rule in 1999, there had had been a lot of cries of division in the military mainly along ethnic lines and this got to a peak at the height of the pro-democratic struggles along the lines of those in support of continued military rule or those against it.

These tendencies which should not have existed in the military in the first place set the tone for the politicization of the military when the country returned to civil rule.

The Military has suddenly become so over compromised that they will sell out Nigeria and Nigerians for any amount. From roaming about the streets of Nigeria drinking and sleeping with prostitutes while Nigeria burns to Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh allegedly taking commands from a bunch of civilians in a plot to rig elections. It’s now clear that the Nigerian military is in disarray; making the Nation very vulnerable.

Most recently a Nigerien parliamentarian was recorded ridiculing the Nigerian Army stating that his soldiers do not run away from insurgents like their Nigerian counterparts. How can we criticise him heavily when our own National Security Adviser made a similar accusation on the world stage?

In truth, some of the brave soldiers on ground aren’t doing much wrong, but their senior officers who ought to be leading the front line are all over the place begging for pennies from politicians while siphoning the salaries of the lower ranks.

Nigeria’s water-ways, airspace and borders are now among the most porous in the world. Anyone can ship in, fly in and cross in virtually anything, anyone at anytime. Like Nigeria itself, the Nigerian Military is a sinking ship that needs to be rescued.

The Nigerian Military from time to time reiterates that “apart from its primary constitutional role of defending the country from external aggression and internal insurrection, it also has the responsibility of providing in aid of civil authority such as the need to provide complementary security arrangement to protect our electoral process”. And that it is on record that the military has successfully lived up to its responsibility while discharging this duty during previous elections without equivocation.

The last sentence has been a topic of debate to many especially with the recent indictment of Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh in alleged rigging of Ekiti state elections.

If the Military still had any atom of decency and integrity in them, it would have announced a full scale investigation into the taped conversation between the Nigerian Military representatives, Governor Fayose and Musliu Obanikoro.

It is high time the Nigerian military started to produce again a new generation of competent and professional men and women of integrity who are committed to serving the Nigerian people and not politicians and business men. If it continues in her present directionless trajectory, they will lose the little bit of confidence the people still have in them.

The Military should be an institution spared from the vagaries of politics, for regimes come and go but the Armed forces remains the epitome of our Unity and common unity factor.