Military Cattle Ranch – Trivialization of Duty or Trade Militarization?

Military Cattle Ranch –  Trivialization of Duty or Trade Militarization? .....Olusegun Phillips-Alonge

A nation’s military is a strategic asset instituted and empowered by the dictates of her Constitution for the sole purpose of defense against internal and external aggressions. As such, military entities are an apolitical institution with a singular focus on maintaining the integrity, peace, and safety of the nation. Military involvement in extra-constitutional activities is a dangerous distraction that borders on the trivialization of duty and a willful subversion of the Constitution.

The four functions of the Nigerian army are listed in Sections 217-220 of the 1999 Constitution as:
• Defending Nigeria from external aggression,
• Maintaining territorial integrity and securing Nigeria’s land, air, and sea borders from violation,
• Suppressing insurrection and aid civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President subject to conditions as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, and
• Performing any other acts prescribed by the national assembly.

On August 15, 2015, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Burutai restated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to its constitutional duty. Consequently, the reported divestment of the Nigerian army barracks to cattle ranches constitutes an uncharacteristic systemic trades militarization against the primary interests of the nation. Now that General Burutai seeks to turn the Nigerian army into a commercial cattle rearing organization, it is incumbent on Nigerians to remind him of his constitutional boundaries.

The resources of an army that is struggling to contain a multi-faceted internal and external terrorism should not be saddled with any pecuniary triviality such as cattle rearing. A highly decorated military officer of General Burutai’s standing should know better. He should be building a professional volunteer force to secure Nigeria not creating an army of commercial entitlements at the expense of the nation’s security, unity, and integrity.

If General Burutai wishes to redefine the roles of the Nigerian army, he needs congressional approval to do so. Otherwise, his disingenuous cattle ranch idea amounts to an attempt to turn our respectable defense institution into a commercial entity for the benefit of a selected few. If maintaining territorial integrity is the main focus of General Burutai, he should not pull the Nigerian military into the indignity of getting involve in the highly divisive cattle ranch business.

While General Burutai’s motivations may be unquestionable, Nigeria would benefit more from his undivided attention to defense matters. One can only hope General Burutai will focus his energy and knowledge on the various strategic defensive challenges confronting Nigeria. However, should General Burutai remain adamantly tone deaf about the apparent extra-constitutional and divisive nature of his political and commercial cattle ranch, a proper judicial restraint is warranted

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