.demands recall, without delay, all retired officers, soldiers within past 6mths
.urges large-scale recruitment drive into the military
By Our Reporter
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has amid insecurity currently ravaging the country, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the enforcement of the Armed Forces Act 2004 provision, saying that he should recall, without delay, all officers and soldiers who had retired within the past six months as part of a broader, strategic effort to reinforce the nations Armed Forces.
Besides, Prof. Akinyemi, also a former Director-General of Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), also called on the president to authorize a nationwide, large-scale recruitment drive into the Nigerian Armed Forces, "ensuring that every state and region is properly garrisoned and adequately secured."
This was just as he equally recommend that President Tinubu should declare a nationwide state of emergency, during which period, constitutional immunity for state governors should be suspended and ensure that any governor under whose jurisdiction terrorist groups operate freely and with impunity can be held accountable and "where necessary, such a state may be temporarily placed under military administration to restore order and protect citizens."
Akinyemi made these calls in a signed release, copy of which he made available to newsmen on Monday, saying that the enforcement of Armed Forces Act 2004 provision, which he described as an inherited British-era policy that mandates the retirement of military personnel after 35 years of service or upon attaining 60 years of age should be suspended as Nigeria again urgently needed a strengthened military presence to confront escalating insecurity and safeguard her sovereignty.
According to the elder statesman, history provides clear precedents for such a step, quickly recalling that the same law was temporarily set aside during the Second World War, when the British required additional boots on the ground, just as he equally noted that Nigeria, during the civil war, similarly relaxed "these retirement provisions" to meet urgent national security needs.
"I respectfully call on His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to suspend the enforcement of the Armed Forces Act 2004 provision—an inherited British-era policy—that mandates the retirement of military personnel after 35 years of service or upon attaining 60 years of age.
'History provides clear precedents for such a step. During the Second World War, when the British required additional boots on the ground, the same law was temporarily set aside.
"Similarly, during Nigeria’s Civil War, these retirement provisions were relaxed to meet urgent national security needs. Today, our nation again finds itself in a situation that requires exceptional measures. Nigeria urgently needs a strengthened military presence to confront escalating insecurity and safeguard our sovereignty.
"Accordingly, I urge President Tinubu to suspend the current retirement requirements and to recall, without delay, all officers and soldiers who have retired within the past six months. This recall should form part of a broader, strategic effort to reinforce our Armed Forces," he said.
"In addition, I call on the president to authorize a nationwide, large-scale recruitment drive into the Nigerian Armed Forces, ensuring that every state and region is properly garrisoned and adequately secured. This is essential to restoring confidence, stability, and territorial control across the federation.
"In addition, I call on the president to authorize a nationwide, large-scale recruitment drive into the Nigerian Armed Forces, ensuring that every state and region is properly garrisoned and adequately secured. This is essential to restoring confidence, stability, and territorial control across the federation.
I further recommend that the president declare a nationwide state of emergency. During this period, constitutional immunity for Governors should be suspended so that any Governor under whose jurisdiction terrorist groups operate freely and with impunity can be held accountable. Where necessary, such a state may be temporarily placed under military administration to restore order and protect citizens," he added.
On terrorists and their collaborators, Prof. Akinyemi further urged the president to establish a military tribunal to try them, saying that the tribunal should be empowered to impose death penalty on those involved "where guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt."
He warned that Nigeria must not tolerate a situation in which members of terrorist organizations freely appeared at social gatherings armed and unchallenged, declaring that the nation’s security demanded decisive, coordinated, and courageous action.
"Finally, I call on President Tinubu to establish a military tribunal to try terrorists and their confirmed collaborators. Where guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt, the tribunal should be empowered to impose the maximum penalty under the law - the death penalty.
"Nigeria must not tolerate a situation in which members of terrorist organizations freely appear at social gatherings armed and unchallenged. Our nation’s security demands decisive, coordinated, and courageous action," he warned.
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