The Seaman and a General ‘s Flaw
By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice
In the military parlance, obedience is a creed that must not only be obeyed but held in sanctity. ‘Obey the last order ‘ is a phrase that must not be disobeyed. Navy Seaman Abbas Haruna violated the age-long military order when he failed to obey the order from a superior officer. A sacrilegious fiat that carries an unpardonable two year jail term.
Brigadier General MS Adamu is in the eyes of the storm given the watery way he handled Seaman Abbas gross conduct. He has made a mess of the military culture and everyone is a judge in what would have been a pure military affair. He failed to manage the situation thus making a hero of an uncultured Navy Rating Abbas. No one is looking at the gross indiscipline of Abass but the cruelty that enveloped him in the six years under detention – a situation that is so sore and nauseous. Why keep a trained man, a soldier and a family man under such inconsiderable condition simply because he manifested a high level of emotional misconduct?
Abbas action was wrong and condemnable but General MS Adamu ‘s action is more appalling and embarrassing to the military hierarchy – he failed to manage such a non issue.The order to disarm an armed soldier trained to die holding his rifle was a premeditated malice anchored on vendetta. It was a joint taskforce and disarming him in the full glare of the public was unprofessional. A simple orderly room invite would have done the magic. The officer that called for his disarming showed inept leadership capacity. He failed to manage such a non issue. Leadership requires tact and effective management of sensitive situations. In this case, General Adamu’s actions have made a martyr of Abass, overshadowing his initial misconduct. The focus has shifted from Abass’s indiscipline to the perceived cruelty he endured
Contextually, Nigerians were awakened with a piercing voice of Hussiana Abbas on the popular Brekete Family Reality show aired on 101.1 FM Human Rights Radio . She had come to the program to amplify the plight of her husband Navy Seaman Abass detained for six long years for disobeying a superior officer’s order.
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It began with a simple order from General MS Adamu, one that Abass failed to follow. The military’s age-old creed of obedience had been breached, and the consequences were severe. Six years of detention, many argued, was excessive punishment. General Adamu’s actions, critics contended, had inadvertently made a martyr of Abass, overshadowing his initial misconduct.
But Abass’s case was not an isolated incident. Nigeria’s military had a history of insubordination, often with devastating consequences. The 1966 Nigerian Coup, led by Major Chukwuemeka Kaduna Nzeogwu, refused to obey General Aguiyi Ironsi’s orders, plunging the nation into the Biafran Civil War.
Years later, Lt. Gideon Orkar’s failed coup against General Ibrahim Babangida’s government cited corruption and mismanagement as justification. More recently, the 2014 Boko Haram Mutiny saw soldiers in the Nigerian Army’s 7th Division rise up against their commanders, accusing them of incompetence and corruption.
Lance Corporal Raymond Ibiamu’s case was another example. Detained for two days over family issues, Ibiamu later sought redress against a superior officer, highlighting the tensions within the military hierarchy.
These incidents underscored the far-reaching consequences of insubordination: undermining authority, damaging morale, and compromising national security. Effective leadership, many argued, was critical in addressing these issues.
Tactful communication, fair discipline, and training and development were essential strategies in promoting a culture of respect and obedience. By fostering open communication and encouraging junior personnel to report grievances without fear of retribution, the military could minimize instances of insubordination.
The Abas incident and past cases served as a wake-up call for Nigeria’s military. It was time to reexamine leadership and conflict resolution strategies. By doing so, the military could strengthen its hierarchy and better serve the nation.
Change was imperative. The military justice system needed review to ensure fairness and proportionality in punishments. Leadership training must focus on conflict resolution and effective communication. Open communication channels would encourage junior personnel to speak out without fear.
Only through these reforms could Nigeria’s military overcome the recurring theme of insubordination, forging a cohesive and effective force that served the nation with honor and integrity.
The ugly scenario between a mere Seaman and an accomplished Brigadier General must never happen again, because it leaves a sore reference on the body polity of a revered institution like the military.
