Political commentator and public affairs analyst, Musiliu Shittu Olaore, retired from the Nigerian Army as a colonel about 14 years ago. He explains the circumstances that led to his exit, in this interview with ADEKUNLE JIMOH. He also relives his interesting times in the army. Excerpts:
How would you describe yourself?
I hail from Offa, Kwara State. I am also a practising medical doctor. I was born in Kumasi, Ghana, when my father went there on business. My father was trading in fish before he relocated to Nigeria in 1960.
When were you born?
I was born in the late 1950s. I started primary school in Ghana and completed it in Nigeria, mostly in mission schools like Baptist before my secondary education at the then Niger State Provincial Secondary School, Bida. It is now Government College, Bida. I finished from there in 1967 and proceeded to Government College, Keffi, in then Plateau State for Cambridge Higher School Certificate from 1967 to 1969.
In 1970, I proceeded for my medical course at the University of Lagos where I qualified as a medical doctor in 1975. I did my housemanship between 1975 and 1976 and went for the mandatory National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in 1977. Then in 1978, I joined the army.
Will you say you were born with silver spoon?
No. My father was a moderate man. He was self-contented. That is why I am following in his footsteps.
Why did you elect to enlist in the Nigerian Army?
When I left the NYSC, I saw the military as a bastion of vigour and good life. Otherwise, after NYSC, I was asked to come to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for my post-graduate programme in Gynaecology. But whilst serving as a youth corps member, I saw the benefits of serving the nation on a higher scale. That is why when I completed my NYSC programme, I went back to LUTH and started the post-graduate programme. But not more than three months into the programme, I just saw my name in Daily Times that I should come for an interview in Ibadan, because I had applied while serving as a youth corps member.
So I went and the late General Mamman Vasta asked, “So you are a medical doctor?” and I said yes. He said we need people like you in the army. That was how I joined the army. Afterwards, I had to go back to LUTH to tell them of my decision. The authorities of LUTH encouraged me to stay back and finish my post-graduate programme but I refused. That was how I joined the army in October 1978. I spent 24 years, six months and four days. I voluntarily retired from the army in 2003.
Since retirement, I have not really engaged in any active work, because one thing about the military is that once you serve there and retire and you are contented, you will not want to serve under anybody again. Except maybe you just want to offer service.
Tell us about your major postings in the army
Having completed my mandatory military training in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna and Nigerian Military Depot, Zaria, both in Kaduna State, I was posted to the military hospital Enugu, as captain, general duties medical officer. While I was there, within eight months, I was seconded to serve in the United Nations peace-keeping force in Lebanon, to lead the contingent under the command of the late Lt-Col. Yohanna Madaki. I came back to the military hospital. From there, I was posted out again on a course at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Kaduna State. From Jaji, I was posted to Yola, then in Gongola State as Commanding Officer, 15 Field Ambulance Brigade, under the Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Y.Y Kure.
From there, the Maitasine riot broke out in Kano and spread to Yola. The then General Officer Commanding (GOC), General Muhammadu Buhari, now the current president, visited us in Yola and said we should be ready to move to that place. I pinned down at Munguno field hospital as the commander of the field hospital and Baga axis in Borno State. The then General Buhari came down from Jos. We were there. And when Chad operations came again, we moved to Baga under Buhari as GOC 3rd Armoured Division. We flushed them up to Chad. In fact, the then Chadian President complained to Alhaji Shehu Shagari why Nigeria was invading his country. Buhari’s coming is not ordinary; it is divine. He is one of the greatest Nigerians that can look anybody in the face. He is not corrupt. He does not drink, he does not smoke and he does not womanise.
We are not in this world to make money but for God and humanity. When we finished the Chad operations, I came back to Yola and from there to the Military Hospital Jos as senior medical officer. After two years, I was posted out to the Military Hospital, Yaba, Lagos from 1987 to 1989, and from there, I was posted to Markudi as Commanding Officer of the 31 Infantry Brigade Para-trooper. After, I was posted back to my headquarters in Lagosthe Nigerian Army Medical Corps. I was there for four years.
In 1994, I was moved from there to 44 Armed Forces Reference Hospital, Kaduna. After one or two years, I was posted to Enugu again as medical officer of the whole 82 division. From there I went back to Lagos. All my children knew about all these movements, as I always took them along.
Do you have a hospital of your own?
No, I don’t. But I am proposing to have one, because a medical doctor is always one for life. But I will not tell you lies, very soon, I will have my own hospital. Over the years, I have been a political commentator and an analyst.
Are you married?
Yes, I am married and blessed with three boys and one girl. They are graduates now in various disciplines.
Do you have any regrets in life?
My greatest regret is that when I was in the army, I saw that the professionals were not being treated like the non-professionals. So I started asking myself, ‘I’m I in the right place?’ But I trudged on. When it was time for me to go, I voluntarily retired; not that anyone forced me. It was because of the discrimination in promotions; that certain categories of soldiers could not go beyond certain ranks. I said I didn’t bargain for such brazen discrimination. Another regret was when my wife quit the marriage, leaving me with four toddlers. I was saying, would I cope? Since she left me, I have not remarried. God helped me to train them; even when my late mother said I should bring them to her, I refused. To God be the glory, all of them are graduates. That is my joy.
What are your happiest moments?
When I saw my children growing and they were graduating. When the last two finished, that was my happiest moment. Because I voluntarily resigned so that I would take care of these children no matter what, and God has been very faithful to me.
What were your challenges during active service?
The army operates on discipline. It is not about whether you are right or you have a contrary opinion. Once a decision is taken by a superior officer, you must abide. Anybody who joins the military and he is not subservient cannot last. Even though you are right, you must obey before complaints. Then you can now go round and sell your idea again quietly. That is why the army is able to fight. When they say go right, left or centre, you don’t ask why. If you look back, you are court-martialled and shot dead on the field. The peace time court-martial is also there. The normal discipline of the army is spelt out when you are joining the army.
What are your comments on the country’s economic recession?
Look, the revelations about mind-bugling corruption of military officers having billions of naira, malls and shops! Look, they should be shot! Professionals who have gone to the universities doing their works or trading don’t have such huge amount of money. They just go to government and embark on a looting spree. The judiciary is not helping matters. Judges just grant frivolous interlocutory injunctions. Nigeria is not ready for democracy. We need militocracy; what the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe referred to in 1976 as diarchy; that is a combination of military and civilian rule.
I am happy the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) said he has received petitions, promising to look into them. President Muhammadu Buhari should liaise with the CJN for accelerated completion of all corruption-related cases.
Would you say you are a fulfilled man?
Honestly, I am a fulfilled man. All my children are graduates. That is my greatest joy in life. Money or no money, what I will eat till I die, God has provided it. I am not looking for anything again than to be free and do what I want. What is this life all about?
