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| General Sam Momah with the G D A after the rare encounter in his Abuja office |
General
Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Momah is generally termed “The General and Gentle Man” in the
literary and military circle. The two time minister of Science and Technology
under General Sani Abacha and General Abdulsalami
Abubakar’s regime is a man of his words any day any time.
Samuel Ifeanyichukwu Momah is generally termed “The General and Gentle Man” in the
literary and military circle. The two time minister of Science and Technology
under General Sani Abacha and General Abdulsalami
Abubakar’s regime is a man of his words any day any time.
A thorough bred
career military Officer with over 35 years of unblemished record in the service
of the Nigerian Army, serving in various capacity including Director of
strategy at the Nigerian War College,
Abuja and later Adjutant General of
the Nigerian Army before he later
became the pioneer Commandant of the Nigerian War College which is regarded as
the Think-Thank of the Nigerian Army. General
Momah a complete and de-tribalized Nigerian Gentle Man is also a doctorate
degree holder in Strategic studies from a University in Austria. Famously known
for having authored several books on technological advancement, global world
order and strategic thinking, his latest book which was released on his 70th
birthday on August 6th 2013 titled “Nigeria: Beyond Divorce” is a master piece of compendium of issues
and realities confronting our national life as a people and discouraging our economic potential as a nation. In a recent encounter with your African’s number
1 Celebrity encounter blog asabeafrika
at his FCT, Abuja home, the 71 years old renowned writer and military
strategist told us why Nigerians should make a brave choice and vote for General Muhammad Buhari in 2015 and why
the need to salvage the country from socio-political chaos is of paramount
commitment in 2015 than any other thing. Enjoy!
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| General Sam Momah to asabeafrika….’Let us consider the best brand we have |
The Buhari brand and the pedigree of
change
change
Our
first question was to ask the former Adjutant
General of the Nigerian Army to
take a look at history and tell us which of the leaders he considers the best
among all that have ruled Nigeria since independence in 1960, he didn’t waste
time in naming his best choice which he backed with adequate reasons “Well, to
me, I wont hide it, it is (General Muhammad) Buhari. He ruled within a short time but at least, we saw the
impact. He was sincere and I believe that all said and done, if Nigerians can
give him a chance (in 2015) he will salvage this country. I believe that
because I worked closely with him but somehow, the press is killing him. You
guys are the ones damaging his reputation but he is the only man that I think
is sincere and if he comes, within two years, Nigeria would be straightened up”.
first question was to ask the former Adjutant
General of the Nigerian Army to
take a look at history and tell us which of the leaders he considers the best
among all that have ruled Nigeria since independence in 1960, he didn’t waste
time in naming his best choice which he backed with adequate reasons “Well, to
me, I wont hide it, it is (General Muhammad) Buhari. He ruled within a short time but at least, we saw the
impact. He was sincere and I believe that all said and done, if Nigerians can
give him a chance (in 2015) he will salvage this country. I believe that
because I worked closely with him but somehow, the press is killing him. You
guys are the ones damaging his reputation but he is the only man that I think
is sincere and if he comes, within two years, Nigeria would be straightened up”.
“He is just a devout Muslim and I
think everyman has a right to his religion. To be devout, and most of his house
helps, personal aides are Christians. In his own house; I worked under him as
his Principal Staff Officer (PSO) when he was GOC and I know him too well, he
is not corrupt at all. He lives a Spartan life, he doesn’t pretend, he is
honest to the core and he is a good leader because he lives by example”.
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| General Sam Momah to G D A….’General Buhari is a spartan leader who does not believe in material wealth aquisitions’ |
GMB and the fundamentalist tag
On
what the former member of the Provisional
Ruling Council (PRC) feels about the tag of a religious fanatic hung on the
image of General Buhari by critics
he gave a quick response “He is not” he said this repeatedly before speaking
further “He is just a devout Muslim and I think everyman has a right to his
religion. To be devout, and most of his house helps, personal aides are
Christians. In his own house; I worked under him as his Principal Staff Officer
(PSO) when he was GOC and I know him too well, he is not corrupt at all. He
lives a Spartan life, he doesn’t pretend, he is honest to the core and he is a
good leader because he lives by example. He does not believe in messing up and
pretending to be a messiah. So, he is what he is and that is it. It is a pity
that he has been run down by the press but let Nigerians think twice. All we
are saying is that let somebody salvage this country. At the rate we are going,
like General T.Y Danjuma said
recently “Somalialising Nigeria is
never the best thing”. Because Nigeria is heading to be worst than Somalia and
immediately it gets to that stage, all of us will perish. So, let’s get
somebody who is capable”
what the former member of the Provisional
Ruling Council (PRC) feels about the tag of a religious fanatic hung on the
image of General Buhari by critics
he gave a quick response “He is not” he said this repeatedly before speaking
further “He is just a devout Muslim and I think everyman has a right to his
religion. To be devout, and most of his house helps, personal aides are
Christians. In his own house; I worked under him as his Principal Staff Officer
(PSO) when he was GOC and I know him too well, he is not corrupt at all. He
lives a Spartan life, he doesn’t pretend, he is honest to the core and he is a
good leader because he lives by example. He does not believe in messing up and
pretending to be a messiah. So, he is what he is and that is it. It is a pity
that he has been run down by the press but let Nigerians think twice. All we
are saying is that let somebody salvage this country. At the rate we are going,
like General T.Y Danjuma said
recently “Somalialising Nigeria is
never the best thing”. Because Nigeria is heading to be worst than Somalia and
immediately it gets to that stage, all of us will perish. So, let’s get
somebody who is capable”
“But of course you go to Great
Britain, you see David Cameron,
forty-something. Because they are very developed, they don’t require that grey
hair to pilot their political system any longer. Already people like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher have done all the
works over the years; they have established strong systems that work. But here,
we are still growing. We need people with grey hair to really put us through
because we are developmental. We are at the initial stage of our development”
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| General Sam Momah with PDP National Woman Leader Kema Chikwe and APC National Leader, Chief Ogbonaya Onu |
GMB and the age blame game
On
what the former Defense intelligence Chief has to say on the age blame game
being bandied around by General Buhari’s
critics, he reacted fast by saying “No, it is not. It is not”. General Momah enlightened Nigerians further “The least problem we talk
about is age. It depends on circumstances; because we have in India today Prime
Ministers that are 75, 76 up to 80. They are still working. But of course you
go to Great Britain, you see David
Cameron, forty-something. Because they are very developed, they don’t
require that grey hair to pilot their political system any longer. Already
people like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher have done all the
works over the years; they have established strong systems that work. But here,
we are still growing. We need people with grey hair to really put us through
because we are developmental. We are at the initial stage of our development.
Therefore we need to have this kind of leadership maturity; we need some
elderly people to really put us through. Then when they have now put us
through, you can now talk of the new breed coming because experience is what
you can not buy in the market; and it solve problems because you have already
been there. So, you know what to do but somebody who has not been there will be
asking for advice. You don’t expect Buhari
to come and be asking for advice. He is a book on his own.
what the former Defense intelligence Chief has to say on the age blame game
being bandied around by General Buhari’s
critics, he reacted fast by saying “No, it is not. It is not”. General Momah enlightened Nigerians further “The least problem we talk
about is age. It depends on circumstances; because we have in India today Prime
Ministers that are 75, 76 up to 80. They are still working. But of course you
go to Great Britain, you see David
Cameron, forty-something. Because they are very developed, they don’t
require that grey hair to pilot their political system any longer. Already
people like Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher have done all the
works over the years; they have established strong systems that work. But here,
we are still growing. We need people with grey hair to really put us through
because we are developmental. We are at the initial stage of our development.
Therefore we need to have this kind of leadership maturity; we need some
elderly people to really put us through. Then when they have now put us
through, you can now talk of the new breed coming because experience is what
you can not buy in the market; and it solve problems because you have already
been there. So, you know what to do but somebody who has not been there will be
asking for advice. You don’t expect Buhari
to come and be asking for advice. He is a book on his own.
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| The General trying to show the G D A a fact on his PC |
So Nigerians
should tap what they have; you have something to tap, it is right there and you
start going elsewhere. So, I think the problem with us is that we don’t want to
sit down and think because our problems are so easy to solve, to me it is so
easy; the Nigerian problem is so easy to solve, that is why some of us feel
very bitter with what is going on. Therefore, if we have a rethink, and
everybody cooperates including Jonathan
himself, the fate of Nigeria is what I think should be paramount in his mind.
What should we do? What do we do? Let’s forget about the fallacy of “it is now
turn for the South or turn for the North”, South-south, north-north etc. 2015
should be ‘how do we salvage Nigeria? Who can salvage Nigeria?’ that is where
we are. After hundred years of our amalgamation; who will salvage the hundred year’s
project that is going down the drain? Who? North; South or Delta or whoever it
is, it is beyond that. Who can? Because we should be ashamed that after 100
years we have nothing to show for it, instead, we lost all that we have. And if
care is not taken, a lot more will happen. Look at the state of kidnapping now,
very disgraceful and shameful. And it is getting worse and worse and worse. It
is more or less the only employment scheme now that is in town. So, how and
where do you start from? Essentially because government has lost control, everything
is gone to blazes; so everybody is now on his own. If you have about a hundred
thousand graduates coming out from our tertiary institutions every year and not
one or two are employed, what do you expect? And it is accumulating all over
the years. It is a time bomb. A time bomb waiting to explode; and this kidnap
case is the limit. It is the limit. So, we have to be very careful, let’s not
be one of the only countries that will have its President kidnapped. Let us be
very, very careful. Nigeria should be very careful and must choose wisely in
2015”.
should tap what they have; you have something to tap, it is right there and you
start going elsewhere. So, I think the problem with us is that we don’t want to
sit down and think because our problems are so easy to solve, to me it is so
easy; the Nigerian problem is so easy to solve, that is why some of us feel
very bitter with what is going on. Therefore, if we have a rethink, and
everybody cooperates including Jonathan
himself, the fate of Nigeria is what I think should be paramount in his mind.
What should we do? What do we do? Let’s forget about the fallacy of “it is now
turn for the South or turn for the North”, South-south, north-north etc. 2015
should be ‘how do we salvage Nigeria? Who can salvage Nigeria?’ that is where
we are. After hundred years of our amalgamation; who will salvage the hundred year’s
project that is going down the drain? Who? North; South or Delta or whoever it
is, it is beyond that. Who can? Because we should be ashamed that after 100
years we have nothing to show for it, instead, we lost all that we have. And if
care is not taken, a lot more will happen. Look at the state of kidnapping now,
very disgraceful and shameful. And it is getting worse and worse and worse. It
is more or less the only employment scheme now that is in town. So, how and
where do you start from? Essentially because government has lost control, everything
is gone to blazes; so everybody is now on his own. If you have about a hundred
thousand graduates coming out from our tertiary institutions every year and not
one or two are employed, what do you expect? And it is accumulating all over
the years. It is a time bomb. A time bomb waiting to explode; and this kidnap
case is the limit. It is the limit. So, we have to be very careful, let’s not
be one of the only countries that will have its President kidnapped. Let us be
very, very careful. Nigeria should be very careful and must choose wisely in
2015”.
“Therefore, if we have a rethink, and
everybody cooperates including Jonathan
himself, the fate of Nigeria is what I think should be paramount in his mind.
What should we do? What do we do? Let’s forget about the fallacy of “it is now
turn for the South or turn for the North”, South-south, north-north etc. 2015
should be ‘how do we salvage Nigeria? Who can salvage Nigeria?’ that is where
we are. After hundred years of our amalgamation; who will salvage the hundred year’s
project that is going down the drain?”
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| General Sam Momah to asabeafrika….’The Chibok Girls issue is the biggest shame our nation can ever wear in recent times’ |
The missing Chibok Girls and
national conscience
national conscience
On the missing 209 missing Chibok girls,
the two-time minister of science and technology offered his views “Honestly the
Chibok issue is a national embarrassment because as a retired military
personnel, I can’t believe what is happening! Two hundred and above number of
our girls have been abducted for over hundred days now and there seem to be no
immediate solution in bringing them back. As a nation we should give this serious
thought by not playing politics with such sensitive issues. Definitely,
national prestige and security are involved. I believe our politicians should
close ranks, and play less politics with this issue to save our girls.
Obviously, I feel very sorry for the abducted children and their parents. I
have five children and I know how their parents must feel. I therefore plead
that everything possible be done to bring them home safely and soonest”
the two-time minister of science and technology offered his views “Honestly the
Chibok issue is a national embarrassment because as a retired military
personnel, I can’t believe what is happening! Two hundred and above number of
our girls have been abducted for over hundred days now and there seem to be no
immediate solution in bringing them back. As a nation we should give this serious
thought by not playing politics with such sensitive issues. Definitely,
national prestige and security are involved. I believe our politicians should
close ranks, and play less politics with this issue to save our girls.
Obviously, I feel very sorry for the abducted children and their parents. I
have five children and I know how their parents must feel. I therefore plead
that everything possible be done to bring them home safely and soonest”
“We know what is happening in Sudan where civil war started in 1955,
and today, after 59 years, they are still fighting. Is that what, as a
grandfather I should wish my grand children? Never!!! So if we start any war,
it’s not going to be smooth. It’s going to last over fifty years and Nigeria with 170 million people
embroiled in anarchy, is not a joke. It won’t be a child’s play”
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| General Sam Momah with VIPs during the launching of his book ‘Nigeria |
Winning the insurgence war & the
Abuja Military Drama
Abuja Military Drama
Proffering solution on how the
military can win the insurgence ravaging North –Eastern Nigeria and damaging
the economy of northern Nigeria the author of “Nigeria: Beyond Divorce” mapped out a strategic view “Well I think
we can win the war if we work methodically and in unity. We cannot defeat a
terrorist organization by applying conventional warfare. It’s a terrorist
insurgency and they are applying psychological warfare on us because for
instance in Abuja, each time they strike you see check points everywhere. With
that, they slow down the economy of Abuja and by extension that of Nigeria. We
panic and react so negatively thereby making Boko Haram happy. The security
agencies should not create such panic and put fear in the masses. Where we are
required to take action are in Damboa, Chibok, Sambisa etc., and not searching
cars in Abuja and other towns/cities. Boko Haram will not be stupid to queue up
and get its car loaded with IEDs to be searched!!! We should be vigilant but
not over react. They are trying to keep our attention away from Chibok, but
hitting the cities, we ought to infiltrate the hierarchies of Boko Haram and
destroy them from within”
military can win the insurgence ravaging North –Eastern Nigeria and damaging
the economy of northern Nigeria the author of “Nigeria: Beyond Divorce” mapped out a strategic view “Well I think
we can win the war if we work methodically and in unity. We cannot defeat a
terrorist organization by applying conventional warfare. It’s a terrorist
insurgency and they are applying psychological warfare on us because for
instance in Abuja, each time they strike you see check points everywhere. With
that, they slow down the economy of Abuja and by extension that of Nigeria. We
panic and react so negatively thereby making Boko Haram happy. The security
agencies should not create such panic and put fear in the masses. Where we are
required to take action are in Damboa, Chibok, Sambisa etc., and not searching
cars in Abuja and other towns/cities. Boko Haram will not be stupid to queue up
and get its car loaded with IEDs to be searched!!! We should be vigilant but
not over react. They are trying to keep our attention away from Chibok, but
hitting the cities, we ought to infiltrate the hierarchies of Boko Haram and
destroy them from within”
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| The General to asabeafrika….’Nigerians must wise-up in 2015 and chose the right leader |
Nigeria: Beyond Divorce & the
Boko Haram threat of 2015
Boko Haram threat of 2015
Speaking on his recent book Nigeria: Beyond Divorce and if he
thinks the Boko Haram insurgence can actually lead to the divorce of tribes
within Nigeria, General Momah
answered this way “I advocated that Nigeria should not disintegrate because the
consequences of disintegration are too heinously bloody to contemplate. We know
what is happening in Sudan where
civil war started in 1955, and today, after 59 years, they are still fighting.
Is that what, as a grandfather I should wish my grand children? Never!!!
So if we start any war, it’s not going to be smooth. It’s going to last over
fifty years and Nigeria with 170
million people embroiled in anarchy, is not a joke. It won’t be a child’s play. Sudan’s population is about twenty
million, Central African Republic is
about ten million, Somalia is about
eight million and so, if these countries with small population are having such
negative impact on the continent and the entire world, can you imagine the
negative impact of 170 million Nigerians on the world. So, we must be very
careful because God has somehow put together this country and I believe that we
just have to find a way not to allow die-hard extremists to destroy Divine wish
for the Black Race and Africa in particular through Nigeria”.
thinks the Boko Haram insurgence can actually lead to the divorce of tribes
within Nigeria, General Momah
answered this way “I advocated that Nigeria should not disintegrate because the
consequences of disintegration are too heinously bloody to contemplate. We know
what is happening in Sudan where
civil war started in 1955, and today, after 59 years, they are still fighting.
Is that what, as a grandfather I should wish my grand children? Never!!!
So if we start any war, it’s not going to be smooth. It’s going to last over
fifty years and Nigeria with 170
million people embroiled in anarchy, is not a joke. It won’t be a child’s play. Sudan’s population is about twenty
million, Central African Republic is
about ten million, Somalia is about
eight million and so, if these countries with small population are having such
negative impact on the continent and the entire world, can you imagine the
negative impact of 170 million Nigerians on the world. So, we must be very
careful because God has somehow put together this country and I believe that we
just have to find a way not to allow die-hard extremists to destroy Divine wish
for the Black Race and Africa in particular through Nigeria”.
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| General Momah to asabeafrika….’Our democracy needs the experience of the grey heads not the young turks’ |
Nigeria has potential to be world power….
General Sam
Momah an alumnus of Nigeria’s
Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
reiterated his belief that Nigeria can indeed become a world power in
years to come if the leadership is right “I believe that there are still very
concerned citizens of this country that are prepared to work for the unity of
Nigeria. What we have to do is try not to be over partisan about religion and
politics and endeavor to be more nationalistic. Nation building is not easy. As
it is today, Nigeria is not only for Nigeria. It’s also for the entire Black
Race. We stand the chance of becoming a world power in the next twenty years.
We shouldn’t joke with that potential. We are the only country in Africa, South
of the Sahara which in terms of human and material resources can aspire to
becoming a world power within the next two decades. Consequently we shouldn’t
joke with that potential. We must try to safe guard it”
Momah an alumnus of Nigeria’s
Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies
reiterated his belief that Nigeria can indeed become a world power in
years to come if the leadership is right “I believe that there are still very
concerned citizens of this country that are prepared to work for the unity of
Nigeria. What we have to do is try not to be over partisan about religion and
politics and endeavor to be more nationalistic. Nation building is not easy. As
it is today, Nigeria is not only for Nigeria. It’s also for the entire Black
Race. We stand the chance of becoming a world power in the next twenty years.
We shouldn’t joke with that potential. We are the only country in Africa, South
of the Sahara which in terms of human and material resources can aspire to
becoming a world power within the next two decades. Consequently we shouldn’t
joke with that potential. We must try to safe guard it”
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| General Sam Momah to asabeafrika…..’Nigeria’s situation now is beyond regional consideration or ethnical jingoism, it is about the best man for the job’ |
The Nigerian Army & the Nigerian
Politicians; foes or friends in nation building
Politicians; foes or friends in nation building
Telling General Ifeanyichukwu Momah a first class military top brass with
enough knowledge of how the military inner circle works to react to the
perception that 15 years of uninterrupted democracy with the army back in the
barrack might have brought more damage to the polity than dividends is like
asking a lion to kiss a donkey. But the General and Gentle man had his answer
for asabeafrika “I am not a
politician. I am a retired soldier and I don’t know what their relationship is
now, but I believe it should be as cordial as possible because, none can do
without the other. I believe that this is the time particularly with Boko Haram
knocking at the door that we must try and make sure that the two are working
amicably in the interest of Nigeria. We ought to develop a symbiosis and
cordial relationship between both. Every arm of government has its own sphere
of responsibility which should be respected by all concerned”
enough knowledge of how the military inner circle works to react to the
perception that 15 years of uninterrupted democracy with the army back in the
barrack might have brought more damage to the polity than dividends is like
asking a lion to kiss a donkey. But the General and Gentle man had his answer
for asabeafrika “I am not a
politician. I am a retired soldier and I don’t know what their relationship is
now, but I believe it should be as cordial as possible because, none can do
without the other. I believe that this is the time particularly with Boko Haram
knocking at the door that we must try and make sure that the two are working
amicably in the interest of Nigeria. We ought to develop a symbiosis and
cordial relationship between both. Every arm of government has its own sphere
of responsibility which should be respected by all concerned”
 |
| General (Dr.) Sam Ifeanyichukwu Momah (Ph-D) |
