Retired Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, Bashir Adewinbi, speaks to ISMAEEL UTHMAN on the nationwide hardship protest and what the Federal Government should do to secure farms and boost food production, among other issues
What is your take on the nationwide hardship protest? Do you think it was justified?
All over the world, there is a procedure for people to engage in a dialogue with their leaders before embarking on any protest. However, demonstration is a right; people can protest to express their grievances peacefully. But how it has been done in this situation has turned into something else. From what we have seen, the protest is politically motivated. It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, but that was not the case.
As they have the right to protest, others can move around, do their business, and express themselves. Others too have the right to be protected. We have witnessed a lot of damage done by the protesters which shouldn’t be. It is beyond ordinary protest. Some disgruntled people sponsored the protest.
Yes, there is hunger in the land, but Nigeria is not the only country experiencing hardship. It’s everywhere. The only way out of hunger is for everybody to embrace farming and agriculture. The government has started promoting farming, and I believe that very soon, there will be farm settlements in all the local governments.
If that is not done, we still have problems. The population is growing, and we are not talking about how to feed them. We must plan. We must have that foresight to plan to feed the increasing population. The population is exploding at a geometric rate, but agricultural products are not increasing. Many people who are supposed to be on the farm are in the town doing nothing. They are boys recruited into thuggery when they are supposed to be gainfully employed on the farm.
How will you react to the killing of some of the protesters by security agents?
It is unfortunate; it’s not something expected. The security agents are to maintain law and order, but when things are getting out of hand, necessary actions must be taken. The killing could be in error or to avert further damage that could make the situation go out of hand.
The security operative might have resorted to minimum force. The police must maintain law and order and protect critical assets of the country. Anybody who claims to be protesting but damaging property is no longer a protester; he or she is a criminal.
Some of the protesters in Kano State were seen waving the Russian flag and carrying a picture of the Russian President. What does this portend for Nigeria? Do you think some external forces were manipulating the demonstrators?
I had said the protest was politically motivated. The way we struggle for power in this country is abnormal. There are procedures if you want power. Elections are held every four years. If you lose by any means and want to hijack power midway, you can go to any length.
All those behind these protests think foreign powers can assist them with what they couldn’t do. It is not possible. They have committed subversion. They are trying to subvert the sovereignty of Nigeria. They cannot do that.
They should be made to pay heavily for that. The matter must be properly investigated. There are some people behind it. The protest was funded by some people, either internally or externally. They must be fished out and made to face the right punishment.
You recently warned that opposition parties should not conspire with external forces to destroy Nigeria. What do you mean by that, and why do you think some Nigerians will do that?
We are too power-hungry for nothing in this part of the world. We can go to any length to look for power. That’s why some people went outside Nigeria to seek the support of foreign powers to assist them with what they cannot do. It is not possible. It is not allowed.
Do you think there is a possibility of a coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu?
Nothing is impossible, but not this time around. I say this because a coup can only happen through the Armed Forces, and the Armed Forces of today are loyal to the constituent authority of President Tinubu. The military must protect democracy, they will not truncate it. No coup has happened since 1999, and it will not happen now.
The military is made up of credible and loyal officers. Nobody can persuade or lure them into what is not possible. I trust that they will not do it. I trust the leadership of the military that they will not do it. I have that confidence. Civilians and some politicians have been calling for a coup underground. They think they can lure the military, but the military is not ready to yield to any negative advice.
They are committed to protecting democracy. We have been enjoying democracy; we just need a little modification. It is still better than any military regime. What happened in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso is different from what is happening in Nigeria. They are francophone countries. They have their problems with France.
Whatever they have done is a way of talking to France. It is a way of showing their opinion, their mind. That cannot happen in Nigeria. Gone were those days when they said coups were contagious. It is no longer the case because Nigeria is a bigger country with a democratically elected President. There will be no coup. Our military is more disciplined and mature.
Why has it been difficult to end terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and others?
I am not sure that these criminal acts are committed by Nigerians. In my opinion, some external forces are coming here to commit such crimes and go back. Our borders are porous. That is why I asked; is it not possible to erect perimeter fences at our borders to control the movement of people? We must be able to control our borders. It is a big and long-term project, but we should start from somewhere. It will reduce crime a lot.
A lot has happened around us. There was a time when Muammar Gaddafi of blessed memory said Nigeria would break in 2015. But we are in 2024 now, still united. We have many enemies around us and we must be very careful. The military is capable of facing any security challenge, but some political reasons are militating against their efforts.
What do you believe are the most critical security threats in the country?
The threat that we must overcome is division; we must remain united. Nigeria is one, and we should be one. There is dignity in being a very big, united country. There is economic value too in being united. We should not allow that to slip away. If not for some circumstances, Nigeria should not be poor for many reasons. We should look back and see where we have failed and make amendments. We should revisit all those policies that made our economy buoyant in the past.
You stated that it would be difficult to combat insecurity as long as politicians continue to use thugs for elections. What do you mean?
Yes, that is true. In a situation where you have to go for elections with a local army (thugs), you arm them, and by the time they finish the election, you dump them, and they have nothing to do again. Some politicians even invite thugs from outside their states. Those thugs will engage in another form of crime. That’s why criminal activities are increasing in Nigeria, particularly kidnapping. We have to do many things to correct all these imbalances. We need to take drastic actions. We need to take the bull by the horns.
Do you support the creation of state police?
Yes, because state police have a gap to fill. State police are needed for community policing because those to be recruited are from the localities. They are very close to the masses, the community leaders, and everybody. They know the nooks and crannies and the people, and they can identify strangers.
With the introduction of Amotekun, crime reduced in the South-West; it has changed a lot of things. That’s why we should also have state police, but I believe we already have that in Amotekun in the South-West. It is mainly to enhance community policing and assist the existing police.
There have been several videos of herdsmen allowing their cattle to eat up farmers’ crops and destroy their farmlands in the South-West despite the law against open grazing. What is your advice to the Amotekun security outfit on how to dislodge the offending herdsmen and strengthen security?
There is a law banning open grazing, but it’s not effectively implemented. Amotekun has taken the bull by the horns, and they should continue to do that. They should enforce that law, banning open grazing. They should not relent in their efforts. While I was the Commander of Amotekun in Osun State, we advised and guided the herders, and we usually contacted them. But where you have problems is when they want to go against the law. The laws have been made, and they must be enforced.
The Federal Government said it would launch a 500,000-hectare farming scheme. How will you advise the government to go about it security-wise?
Insecurity in the North is contributing to the scarcity of food and hunger in Nigeria. It is so because we are interwoven. Whatever affects the North affects the South. Whatever affects us affects them as well. Boko Haram and bandits don’t allow them (farmers) to go to farm again in the North. Our security agencies need to double their efforts. The Federal Government should have a special security plan for the farm.
Do you support the creation of a forest guard specifically for the farming scheme?
It will not be out of place if that’s the solution. But if the President does that now, they will still criticise him that it is a duplication of this and that. If a situation demands a critical solution, let us allow Mr President to offer the critical solution. The way our people criticise things is too much.
How can the government engage active ex-servicemen in national security and policies?
I think the government is looking in our direction to foster security at the state and local levels. There are many of us in charge of local security outfits. But it should not stop at that. On the proposed farming project, the Federal Government should engage the service of retired soldiers for security.
Let them (ex-servicemen) provide security for the farms in their various areas. The government should have a document for every retired soldier in each state. They should be able to call them anytime they are needed. But we can’t force the government. They should call on us whenever they need us.