The memory of a widely transmitted gory video of a gang of iniquitous cadets of the Kaduna-based Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) literally tearing a young man apart will not fade away as long as Nigeria exists. Indeed, in the narrative of recurrent, systematic brutalization of Nigerians by men and women who wear the varying assorted uniforms and emblems of state coercion, the assault on 25-year-oldcitizen Sunday Amari at Jabi Lake Park in Abuja on December 31, 2014 will rank as one of the most despicable in its scale of barbarity. Even for the unemotional, this is a classic horror scene bound to induce goose pimples.

Yet, it is not hard to explain why this level of descent to bestial maltreatment of our fellow citizens by these uniformed felons would continue to offend our sensibilities week in week out, without as much as a whimper from those who lay claim to being the custodians of the security and welfare of the people, the ruling party that is waving the banner of change, the civil society, and worse, from bodies like the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which ought to be on the front line of outrage as a result of such persistent physical and psychological torture of the people.

It is simply because Nigeria – in spite of loud sentiments to the contrary – remains an unformed entity, a stone-age jungle of perversity with very weak antennae of sympathetic response, and where rules of behaviour are defined only by the crude philosophy of might is right. Anyone with connections to the misruling elite will commit any crime and get away with it.

It is this indulgent culture of arbitrariness that gave birth to the tyranny of the military and other similarly kitted personnel, so much so that anyone wrapped under these uniforms sees himself/herself as superior to others who are engaged in civilian jobs. And that is the biggest problem with these uniformed persons, especially the Armed Forces, and particularly the Army. They believe that apart from them, Nigeria has nothing else. Or, something like without them, there can never be a Nigeria.

Clearly, this type of silly arrogance is what motivated nine NDA cadets (seven males and two females) to pounce on an innocent citizen, a parks and recreation officer going about his legitimate duties at the Park. The encounter was like one of those scenes from the NatGeo channels where a pride of lions suddenly cornered a zebra and began tearing it left, right and centre. Sunday was mercilessly beaten only for the reason of being an onlooker in an earlier assault which the cadets had perpetrated on another citizen.

A female cadet convinced that Sunday would walk from the scene only to tell people what he had witnessed, beckoned him and demobilized him instantly with a staccato of slaps. As Sunday reeled on the ground clutching his head protectively, other cadets joined in the shameless frenzy of savagery, repeatedly kicking and slapping and horsewhipping. By the time they were done, the poor fellow was already soaked in his own blood. Nothing advertises man’s inhumanity to a fellow citizen other than this nauseating picture of cruelty.

To further rub salt on Sunday’s wound and the society’s injury, the NDA reacted by telling a most unconscionable lie. It said the incident happened at some location in Lagos when the cadets were on break, and that it was investigating. Meanwhile, truth is that NDA is investigating nada. NDA knows that the Nigerian public is a docile, mumu public. It knows that nothing will happen even if it decided not to cough out a word. Surely, it only decided to put out a response as way of, as they say, fulfilling all righteousness.

Indication that the institution is not remorseful in any sense, and therefore not investigating anything concerning the incident is its failure to respond to an email from Saharareporters requesting identities of these twisted cadets, as well as come on Channels TV following Sunday’s appearance, not just to empathise with the victim but also to apologise to him and the nation while promising that such ugly misconduct from its cadets would be met with stiff punishment now and in the future.

Elsewhere, even in less endowed countries, what happened to Sunday would have ignited protests across state capitals and spurred a serious review of the role of the civil-military relations directorate of the entire Armed Forces. But it’s not happening here – an emphatic sign that our society is terribly sick.In any case, what is the job of the civil-military relations department of the Army? How does it respond in the face unwarranted, frequent brutal assaults of innocent citizens by its soldiers and officers? Does it ever teach its officers and men the meaning of citizenship?

I think the answer is No. My take is that the department is a cosmetic office set up to give the impression that the military is working hard to ensure a smooth relationship between it and non-combatant citizens. And if it’s truly working, why does its impact on the society tend to be more negative than positive?

It is obvious that these brazen brutalities continue to happen because, clearly, there are no sanctions. Officers and men of the military sustained by the tax paid by the toiling masses will practically murder harmless citizens every so often, and then nothing happens. At a social gathering a couple of days ago, some army officers were overheard telling a group of listeners that nothing would ever happen to the cadets who tortured Sunday. They are very right. After all, there are many Sundays that have suffered all kinds of unimaginable abuse under the jackboots of the military without getting the benefit of a mention in the media.

So, no one should be deceived. All that talk about our military being a disciplined institution is balderdash because from all indication discipline is not demonstrated in their everyday conduct. What you get, in the end, is a military bursting at the seams with impunity and heavily laden at the top with corruption. This unwholesome, putrid mix is the definite make-up of Nigeria’s military.

However, the NDA will do well to heed this advice: the cadets who pummelled Sunday that fateful evening should be fished out and sent packing. It is in the best interest of this country that those twisted souls are not allowed to pursue a career in the military.

Godwin Onyeacholem is a journalist; he can be reached on gonyeacholem @gmail.com. [myad]

The great people of Benue State have a special place in my heart and I greatly admire their academic industry. I know that one day, the potential God has given to them to feed the entire West Africa through value-added mechanized farming that will turn their farmers into mega billionaires will be realized. Benue State is more than just the food basket of Nigeria; it is also the food security of our dear nation. I salute the State’s agricultural prowess.

I resisted the temptation of titling this piece “Before it is too late” even-though it suits the context of my point. The phrase has been overused. With due respect, this is also neither a warning, as I do not possess the capacity to contemplate such.  However, as one who considers himself a good friend of the Idoma nation, I have an appeal and admonition to make on the forthcoming Senatorial rerun election in Benue South.

The temptation to be deceived into committing apostasy in the name of change is rife.  We are in a desperate time which calls for deep thinking about our tomorrow. We need to pause a bit and profoundly reflect on this election far beyond party politics. This is because, in the end, all the outsiders who have shown more than a passing interest in Benue South in the name of politics will leave the Idoma nation to its ordeals. Certainly we are in a very difficult time which demands great wisdom. I sincerely beg and urge the Idoma not to be carried away by sensational politics of emotions. They should not be cajoled to trade their future for uncertainties. There is honour and pride in identity.

I am making this intervention as a concerned Nigerian whose love for Benue is genuine. I am concerned about the Idoma nation because it has been oppressed and denied in a State where everyone ought to be equal. It is nearly impossible for an Idoma person to be elected Governor or Speaker of the State House of Assembly. It is far worse than it has been portrayed. However, I am dumbstruck that the opportunity God has given the Idomas to attain national prominence is envied with much passion. This is the hidden truth.

This is not the period for Idoma to gamble politically. Other ethnic groups in similar situation are waiting to see whether the Idomas will fall for this bait to lower its estimation and reputation amongst the comity of ethnic nationalities. Sometimes, unappreciative human beings don’t know the value of what they have until they lose it. Let us not play the game of ‘Had I known.’  This will not be the lot of Idoma people.  The people therefore have a responsibility to defend and sustain the identity of Idoma nation. It is their duty to do so.

They should not let anyone browbeat them with change. We are in a period where you have to present your best and push forward men with national appeal. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is not for the boys. We are obviously in a game of strong men (call them old men). I am talking about men with national clout and appeal; men who can sit on the same roundtable and look one another in the eyes while debating development issues. The Idoma people should sincerely reflect on this.

I certainly don’t know how the Idoma people feel, but it is the reality of time and you are free to fault me with concrete facts. It is a big fallacy to assume there is change in Nigeria as was seen in America when President Barack Obama came on board.  Unlike when we had a minority as the President, it is now the game of three major ethnic groups – Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Ibo, and they are led by strong men.  Who are Idoma nation’s strong men? Unfortunately, some people who are envious of the ethnic nation’s rise to prominence through David Mark as senate president from 2007 to 2015 and the longest serving senator from 1999 till date are now trying to ensure that Mark is replaced.  The same people behind the plot will later turn around to mock the Idoma nation.

I am one of the people who openly defended the choice of Chief Audu Ogbeh as a Ministerial nominee because it will be suicidal under this present administration for any ethnic group to be represented by a political nitwit at this material time. It is equal to committing political harakiri. But it is in the Senate that the wisdom to move a democracy forward resides. The red chamber belongs to wise men, even in advanced democracies. Some ethnic groups represented by playboys are regretting it.  The Idoma people don’t need a representation that will be struggling to seek recognition. It will be too much of a mistake to make: suppressed at home and struggling away!

The issue of identity is very strong in politics. Our democracy is currently not sophisticated to accommodate political gambling. If people from other nations are rejoicing because the Idoma people want to remove Mark, they are not doing so because they love the ethnic nation. If there must be an alternative, at least, knowing full well that Nigeria is persistently fighting an internal political war, of what sense is it to replace a General with a recruit? It is the choice of the Idoma people to make and may the people be guided by wisdom.

The propaganda that David Mark has not done anything is a wicked lie from the pit of hell. I never bought into it because of our kind of negative politics. I have taken my time to do due diligence on this issue and I have a challenge to make. I will like those spreading this falsehood to mention any politician in the entire North-Central, not just Benue State, who has contributed to the educational development of his or her people like Mark since 1999. Education is the bedrock of knowledge and the most fundamental asset anyone can possess. Any good and responsible leader will always make human capital development his or her number one priority. I salute Senator Mark on this score.

If I move a step further, I can still throw another challenge. In the entire Nigeria, after the Presidents, is there any Nigerian, living or dead, who has influenced appointments since 2007 at the national level like David Mark? This is the question all sons and daughters of Idoma must ask those telling them to replace David Mark in the Senate. When it comes to infrastructure, is there any individual in the entire Benue State, aside the governors, who has singlehanded influenced projects for the benefit of his people like David Mark?  How many ethnic groups in Nigeria are lucky to have a national figure like David Mark?

There is a seeming conspiracy against the Idoma nation and I want to urge the youths to resist it by protecting the future of this great ethnic nation. I am conversant with Benue local politics. If Idoma people guard what they have jealously, in no time, the Almighty God who rules in the affairs of men will do it – an Idoma son will one day govern Benue State. But the Idoma people must give God a good reason that they will not trade gold with pebble. This is the simple truth and the time to demonstrate that is with the February 20 rerun election by showing political loyalty and appreciation to Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark.

Ariyo-Dare Atoye, a member of Shadow Cabinet of Nigeria (SCN),  contributes this piece from Ward 8, Igbara Odo-Ekiti, Ekiti State – aristotle001us@yahoo.com. [myad]