Like U.S Gen. Mark Milley, Gen. Lucky Irabor Knows That Citizens Have The Right To Dissent, Agitation, Rally

In the last one to two years, we have had tense moments in America and Nigeria as respective citizens engaged in various agitations and protests.

The murder of George Floyd Minneapolis, Minn. by a police officer in Minneapolis last May 2020, resulted to thousands of people who demonstrated all over the United States and across the world.

The June 2020 protest was about addressing racism and police brutality. We saw overwhelming force from law enforcement in dozens of cities. Chemical dispersants, and rubber bullet were used during the largely peaceful crowds but mostly on some unruly vandals and looters. But no live ammunition was fired for fear, warning purposes or by accident like in Nigeria where the government and journalists are quick to use the word “stray bullet.”

On October 20th of 2020, the peaceful End SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad), protesters against the long-time police and military brutality, who gathered at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos saw a blood-stained night of bullets from the army and police shooting into the crowds killing many peaceful protesters.

During the June 2020 protest in front of the Whitehouse, smoke canisters, shields, pepper balls, were used. The then President Donald Trump, known for his aggressive rhetoric, violent threats, and call for actual violence against the protesters was resisted by the military. Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff, he resisted Trump on handling unrest and demonstrations with the military.

This was not the case of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and his military leadership which included the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; and then the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

In fact, in a pre-recorded TV speech, Buhari made no mention of troubling events at Lekki toll gate in Lagos. For this tone-deaf approach to the killings of the protesters, Buhari and his deputies prompted an international outcry. Undemocratically, during the speech Buhari urged citizens to stop their demonstrations.

There is good news in Nigeria as the new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor, during a recent security meeting with retired senior military officers in the South-East zone of Nigeria, he said “it is not the job of the military to stop anyone from agitation for whatever he so wishes, it is a political thing”. “But what we are against is having to use the instrument of violence to bring about the agitation”. “We have a constitution, and the Constitution enables us to present whatever grievances that we have”.

Irabor, unlike his predecessor, is sending a clear constitutional message to the Buhari administration that the military exists to defend democracy and it is not to be used as a political pawn. Irabor thinks like Milley who to this day, continues to remind America and every government head including the President, legislators and Governors that as a military body “We take an oath to the Constitution,” …“will protect and defend that document regardless of personal price.”

Irabor who is not afraid to tell the truth about the Constitution and inform the Buhari political administration about the military standing, like Milley, he agrees that the military, or any security force must stand out as respective institutions that exists not to use violence to maintain peaceful protesters and demonstrations. These approaches to the rule of law are essential in order to keep moving towards a just society. Milley is right, 'We don't take an oath to an individual - we take an oath to the Constitution.' Irabor concurs.

Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi, an American-based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government Consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult/child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional and Career Development. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African settings especially. In 2011, he introduced the State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and the Nasarawa State University where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. The Development Professor and International Liaison Consultant at the African University of Benin, and a Virtual Faculty at the ISCOM University, Benin of Republic. Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi is the founder, of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien University Of Values And Ethics, a mainly E-learning educational environment (TEU). Author of over 36 academic publications/creations, at least 200 public opinion writeups on African issues, and various books.

Prof. Oshodi was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria to parents with almost 40 years of police/corrections service, respectively. Periodically visits home for scholastic and humanitarian works. [email protected]