Following on last Sunday’s endorsement of the PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar by the socio-cultural associations who said they represent the North, South-West, South-East, South-South and Middle Belt, the floodgates seem to have officially open with some retired military officers saying on Monday that they endorse President Muhammadu Buhari of APC for a second term.
The 71 generals of the army and their equivalents in the navy and air force were led to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, by a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa who holds a top position in the current government as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Elimination of Drug Abuse.
A former Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Jubril Ayinla is part of the group; so also are 17 former Military Administrators; two Lieutenant Generals; 13 Major.Generals; 2 Rear Admirals; 8 Air Vice-Marshals; 12 Brigadier Generals; 8 Navy Commodores; and 9 Air Commodores.
I am quite disappointed that the leaders of the team of ex-generals could only muster 71.
There should be hundreds of retired generals and equivalents in Nigeria, led by the oldest in ranking, General Yakubu Gowon, then Obasanjo, Danjuma, Bali, IBB, Abubakar, etc. Where are the older retired generals? Does it mean the group of 71 are the younger retirees and they could not carry along their elders? Or do the elders have their own game plan they are reserving as the last card?
Who next on the endorsement train and for who?
Let it be known that endorsement of the two leading flag bearers had started before now, with some small parties who opted not to field presidential candidates pitching their tents with Buhari or Atiku. Recall that Oby Ezekwesili’s erstwhile party, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria opted for the APC flag bearer after she stepped down.
All this is going on while the parties in coalition are still thinking of who to settle for among themselves to offer whatever challenge they can muster on behalf of the youths.
Will the young parties form part of the endorsement brigade? After all they have bandied about the old brigade, will they settle for one of the fore runners and forget their dream, at least for now?
We are waiting for the next ‘endorser’ and who they will endorse.
Ogie Eboigbe, veteran journalist, broadcaster and public affairs specialist writes and analyses current and historical issues with a ‘wise pen’.
