Army Recruitment Exercise Should Be Investigated— Olanrewaju Charge Army Chief

Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd), a former minister of communications, instructed Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Lt. Gen. Taohreed Lagbaja, the chief of army staff, on Thursday to look into the allocation of slots for Lagos natives in the Nigeria Army’s current recruitment.

A widely shared video on the internet exposed certain candidates who are not native to Lagos State, despite having been granted a “Letter of Indigeneship” to occupy the slots reserved for Lagos indigenes in the ongoing Nigeria Army recruitment.

Olanrewaju, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigeria Army’s Third Armoured Division, reacted to the video by calling it a “huge slap on the national goal of achieving peace and unity in the country.”

However, he said that he could not “investigate himself” and demanded that the Chairman of the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area step down in order for a proper investigation to occur.

Even though there have been refutations, the former minister emphasized in a statement that the matter should not be ignored.

Olanrewaju said: “Our attention has been drawn to a video that has gone viral online revealing a number of candidates who are non-indigenes of Lagos State and were issued ‘Letter of Indigeneship’ to use the slots of Lagos indigenes in the ongoing recruitment in the Nigeria Army.

“Nobody would see and listen to the video and would not be repulsive about the violation of the constitutional rights of indigenes of Lagos State. There is an ongoing indigenes’ recruitment in Lagos State into the Nigerian Army. I believe this is procedurally wrong, constitutionally and democratically unacceptable, and it is a big slap on the national goal of achieving peace and unity of the country.

“If this video is fake, let it be. But if not, I’m requesting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to please use his good office to look into this matter and, if true, interrogate and stop it.

“As for the ruling Lagos State government and responsible agencies, including Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, they are implored to step in and stop those who dish out fake indigene identity to non-indigenous residents in Lagos State in general.

“Some of the ways we feel these rampant abuses could be reduced by law will be outlined later in this article. This video has highlighted one of the various methods and ways indigenous Lagosians have been losing their slots as guaranteed in the Constitution.

“Issues emanating from this video have been traced to Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, even though the Media Office of the Local Government’s Executive Chairman has released a press statement trying to deny it, but the issue should not be swept under the carpet.

“Our Local Government Area and Local Council Development Area chairmen are not concerned and conscious of power of true Lagos State Indegenship. The same applies to our Obas, traditional chiefs, and Baales. Securing a certificate, letter or any other document of Lagos State Indegenship by individual must be thoroughly scrutinised, secured, and not offered on the altar of money or friendship. 

“Our IBILE Indegenship application conditions are too porous and susceptible to abuses because they are not secured and are obtained under pretenses of money and friendship. It is also true that most of the chairmen of LGAs and LCDAs are not themselves true Indigenous IBILE persons. The same applies to some civil servants in the Lagos public service. These are believers that ‘Lagos State belongs to all.’

“Therefore, there is no doubt that the quota of Lagos State is usurped by the Yoruba of the South West, Kwara, Kogi State, or even those of other states that could easily buy out the Lagos State Indegenship certificates. I am sure the same has been happening in other security agencies, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and other departments and agencies. This is not a talk-shop matter anymore, but walking the talk as a purposeful unit.”

Calling for a thorough investigation into the viral video, he said: “First, the Chairman of the Oshodi-Isolo LGA must step aside for thorough investigation to take place. He cannot investigate himself.

“Second, the Executive Governor/Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice are both respectfully requested to present an enabling law to the House of Assembly to be passed on the Verification System Unit that is autonomous, staffed by IBILE Indigeneous Staff, and established in the 5 Divisions of the State.

“Its function is to liaise with the Armed Forces and link with the Governor’s Office, Alausa. They will deal with recruitment, further follow up with the interview processes, and monitor those shortlisted for admission into the Armed Forces. This is what most of the states in the North do now. If this approach is fine-tuned properly, the law will help to reduce abuses associated with Lagos State slots allocated to it.

“This method is doable and feasible, provided there is collective action, purposeful desire, and political willpower.”