A former member of the Supreme Military Council, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Olutoye (retd), has asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida, to apologise to Nigerians for their recent war of words.
Olutoye, in a statement in Akure on Thursday, asked the two generals to sheathe their swords and show remorse for the attacks and counter-attacks they launched against each other on the pages on newspapers.
He said the development was unfortunate as the few retired generals in the country deserved to be treated with respect and not to be subjected to ridicule which the recent show of shame of IBB and Obasanjo, could cause.
He said, “Like many Nigerians, I have had the opportunity to read your many exchanges on the pages of the newspapers. The media had indeed been awash with comments on the recent unsavoury effusions from these former leaders of our dear country.
“It started with a Freudian slip from Gen. Ibrahim Babangid a (retd) during his 70th birthday celebrations where he cast aspersions on the regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (retd), describing it as lack-lustre and un-eventful.
“In his usual abrassive manner, Obasanjo shot back his venom when he ended up his tirade by saying, ‘a fool at 70 is definitely, a fool to the grave.’
Olutoye said he felt disappointed with the action of the two generals as an elder statesmen from the same constituency where both former Nigerian leaders also belonged.
He said, “One cannot but feel disappointed with such a show of shame. Making such unguarded statements and with raw language in public and by former presidents.
“With the background of spartan military discipline, the rich experience and wisdom of old age and such hallowed position as former Heads of state, one begins to wonder why this show of shame and naked dance in the public place.
“Could this be because they are in their dotage, or could this be deliberate effort to seek relevance to avoid being forgotten in the stench of their dustbin of history?”
Olutoye urged the two former leaders to emulate Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who was organising Nigerians to pray for their country instead of abusing themselves on the pages of newspapers.
By Sunday Aborisade Courtesy Of: Punch
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