Bajowa at 80: ” I felt fulfilled in the military” – Gen. Olu Bajowa.
– Steve Ovirih.
Prince (Dr.) Gen. Joseph Olu Bajowa is a celebrated Nigerian who has made his mark both in the Nigerian Armed forces and as a Technocrat whose stewardship traversed Ministries of Defence, Industry, Science and Technology as Permanent Secretary.
In this no holds barred Interview, Gen. Bajowa talked about his experience as a military Officer, security challenges in Nigeria among other sundry issues.
Excerpts:
Thepolity- How will you describe your experience as a military Officer of the Nigerian Army, considering the fact that you retired at the young age of 40?
Gen. Bajowa – Well, my experience as a military Officer was very challenging, very interesting and I feel very fulfilled and happy that it was my ambition to be a soldier and I got enlisted in 1960 and I left in 1980 after 20 years of service. I left very early though, I think there was a bit of politics behind it. By the time I left, I was hoping I will be the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the country but it was the duty or prerogative of the President to chose whom he wanted. So one of my junior, Gen. Wushishi was chosen by the President to succeed the then incumbent , Gen. Akinrinade . When Wushishi came in, I was on a course. I had to leave because Wushishi was my junior; he was Course 3, I was Course 2 and Akinrinade was Course 1. I was left with no choice than to leave but I was satisfied and fulfilled because I became a General, Major. General to be specific before I left the Army and the ambition of any young military Officer is to hold the baton of a General before he leaves the Force. So, I got to the Pinnacle of my career in the Nigerian Army.
Thepolity
What’s your counsel to your younger colleagues in the Force on the security challenges in Nigeria?
Gen.Bajowa – I think the Armed Forces are doing their best within the political circumstances and my candid advice to them is to continue to be loyal , to be steadfast and to be committed. I do realise that the war they are fighting now is asymmetric and not the conventional war; you know a war that has to do with kidnapping, insurgency and rustling. So, as such , they are doing more of internal security . The Army is meant to be involved more in external security, making sure that external aggression against the nation is nipped in the bud and warded off. But as it is now, we have more of internal security challenges that bother on the Boko Haram insurgency, the kidnappings, armed banditry and so on.
The Boko Haram insurgents , for instance, they want to die and would not mind bombing you to death alongside themselves and others. This is unlike the conventional warfare where the enemy wants to escape death but only want to kill you, the aggressor. So, they have a special challenge , but the most important advice I will give is for the Commandant and the people to come together and have synergy on intelligence gathering. The people should avail the military appropriate information to curb the Boko Haram threat because most of these people live with us particularly in the core North where insurgency has been on a steady menacing rise. If members of the Public are not helping with information , the problem we have now will persist .
Thepolity – You are a Community leader who has contributed a lot to Ikale Land. Why are you venturing into Radio station ownership?
Gen. Bajowa- Well, it’s my intention , my plan and my ambition to contribute to the development of my local community just as I have contributed to nation building in the Army. You should know that it appears that culture and tradition of our people are dying. People are buying more of foreign culture and lifestyle. You find out that our once prized and esteemed culture is decaying because of the way foreign culture is making incursion into into our consciousness . Our young ones can’t speak their dialect anymore , let alone the Yoruba Language. So, I believe we should strive to revive our culture so that people in your generation ( referring to the reporter) don’t forget knowledge of our culture, customs and tradition. That’s why I set up the Radio station, Awawa FM. I joined hands with my wife , the Regent of Ayeka to set up the Radio station so that it can serve as a medium of promoting our language , culture and custom of Ikale, Ilaje, Apoi, Arogbo. The medium has the mandate to maintain our culture and revive those that are dying. That way we can revive the rich Yoruba Language that seems to be going into extinction.
Thepolity- Sir, the pretty Regent of Ode Ayeka is your wife. How did the General come about his pretty wife?
Gen. Bajowa – It’s a private affair. Young man , you are probing into a private affair! ( Smiles…) You have said it all that she is pretty. When I met her at the palace of the Rebuja of Osooro Kingdom, the word you used “pretty” was one of the attraction. The Regent is an epitome of elegance, ravishing beauty, grace and Princesshood .
You have described her as pretty and you have said it all.
Thepolity –
How does it feel to be 80 years? My take is that you look younger and even smarter sir?
Gen. Bajowa – Well, I feel happy. I feel grateful to God that a lot of people, not only you, do tell me I look younger than being 80. But then , I feel I am 80. I know it’s God’s special grace, so I feel satisfied, fulfilled and accomplished. There is nothing that God gives accomplished men that God has not given me. I am grateful to God for his grace upon my life all these years and I am also grateful to God for his blessings.
Thepolity- Thank you so very much for your time sir. My last shot; your advice to Nigerians as we move into a new year. Permit me sir to give a background here: the outgoing year 2020 witnessed development like EndSARS that took those in government by surprise. The nation relapsed into recession second time in five years under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. What is your advice to Nigerians?
Gen. Bajowa. Thank you very much Steve. Well, I think we are facing challenges like other countries of the world. Above all things, we have to continue to pray to God and ask for direction for our leaders. Our economy unfortunately is dwindling and there is general unemployment in the country and that was what I believed triggered the EndSARS crisis you mentioned. Once there is mass unemployment and there are lot of people, youths with no job, there could be crisis. The saying still holds sway that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. So what we have to do is to strive to get our youths occupied. What comes to my mind immediately is that we should make agriculture attractive since everybody cannot be employed in the public sector. You find out the number of people we release into the labour market from our Ivory towers and Youth Corp is a lot every year. The figure is skyrocketing and scary. Such huge number of youths without job annually doesn’t bode well for the security of the nation because they will be idle and when they are idle they will constitute threat to the society. Our youths should also endeavor to be creative if at all they don’t get white collar job. Technology is the rave now , so they should think outside the box with technology made easy approaches to making life convenient for the Society.
Thepolity – Happy birthday to you sir. We at thepolity.net wish you many happy returns of the day.
Gen. Bajowa- Thank you very much and God bless you.
