Reflections by Chris Kwaja
My Dear Lt Gen Olufemi O. Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I sent you a special congratulatory message, which you were so kind to respond to. Thank you, sir. We look forward to a successful Senate confirmation and your new rank of a Four-Star General. As you settle down for business, I have identified six (6) major areas of strategic importance that you should consider and prioritise as CDS.
- Strengthen the framework of civil-military relations, beyond just having a directorate. The philosophy of citizen-soldiers should be the guiding principle of our armed forces.
- Against the backdrop of the role that the military plays in internal security operations/management, you need to establish a simulation centre for training, akin to the Martin Luther Agwai Peacekeeping Centre, in order to improve the operational readiness of our armed force, in line with best practices.
- Invest in developing a robust strategic communication system as a tool for bolstering citizens’ confidence in the armed forces. The recent conflict of narrative between the defence headquarters and the defence intelligence agency highlighted the gaps that need to be addressed by the armed forces.
- Forge stronger ties with Nigeria’s Neighbours. They might be “hostile”, but they are not our enemies. We’ve got so much to benefit from a robust defence pact with these Neighbours, beyond ECOWAS or ECCAS.
- Strengthen relations with state governments by strongly advocating for stronger linkages between the armed forces and the intelligence institutions on one hand, and the state governments. This tripartite relationship is key to implementing a successful national security and national defence agenda.
- Be a leader for ALL Nigerians. Don’t allow the military to be politicized. Don’t allow criminals to be protected. At the end of your tenure, the verdict of Nigerians will define the kind of verdict you will get. The choice is between commendation and condemnation.
I join many Nigerians in praying to God to grant you wisdom and grace to succeed in this very important task.
- Chris Kwaja
