A Nigerian Civil War veteran, retired Maj.-Gen. IBM Haruna, has stressed the need for Nigerians to strive to sustain national peace and democratic stability, adding that they are vital lessons from the civil war fought between 1967 and 1970.
Haruna, who played a prominent role as an officer of the Nigerian army during the civil war, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
He said part of the outcome of the civil war was the eventual radicalism of the military in the country, especially by young officers.
“The 1966 coup ignited the involvement of the military in national politics.
“This is because the young revolutionaries, who thought, planned and executed the coup, believed that political leadership, vision and determination were as easy as the expectations in a military barracks and in a military institution.
“Well, we all learned our lessons from 1966 and up to 1999 when we were able to adopt a civil and political process for the advancement of our democracy, rather than dictatorship,” he said.
The retired military officer urged Nigerians, especially the youth to be patriotic in promoting peace, stability and development of the country.
“I think the youths would learn particularly from the late Gen. Muhammadu Buhari that what gets you on is discipline; it is commitment to service; it is diligence; it is also about loyalty.
“And I think that the youths, and even Nigerians in general, would learn from his (Buhari’s) life,” he said.
Haruna, while narrating his military career and civil war experiences, described them as varied and exciting.
“My experiences were varied. My military experiences were also very varied in that, before I served in the front line in Onitsha, I was in all the complex administrative and logistic arrangements for preparing, training, and delivering reserved soldiers and recruited soldiers to the various war fronts.
“So when Gen. Muhammad Shuwa was commanding in Markudi, I was in Kaduna and Lagos, seeking and deploying logistics support and I would fly to Markudi for the preparation and sustenance of the civil war when it started.
“Secondly, I had served in most staff positions, Principal Staff Officer (PSO), Quarter Master General, Nigerian Army (1968) and as principal staff of the Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, Lagos (1969).
“Subsequently, I served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division (Main), Nigerian Army, Onitsha (1968-1969); other functions were in-between them,” he said.
NAN reports that Haruna’s military records also included his appointment as the Principal Provision Control and Accounts Officer, Army Base Ordnance Depot, Yaba, Lagos (1964); Commanding Officer, Base Ordnance Depot, Yaba-Lagos (1965) and Leader of the Army Delegation to U.S.A. Orientation Visit (1966).
At the onset of the civil war, he was appointed Rear Commander, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna (1967). Also , he was once the Commandant, Lagos Garrison Organisation and 3 Marine Commandant.
Other positions held by Haruna were: Chief Ordnance Officer Nigerian Army and Ordnance Corps Commander (1966-1967); Quartermaster-General, Nigerian Army Headquarters (AHQ) (1970); Member of the Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo Committee for the Re-Absorption of Biafran former Nigerian Army Officers (1970),
Chairman, Ceremonial Committee, Second All African Games (1970) and Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture (1975-1977). (NAN)
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