Junior Ministers of Defense are not new to Nigeria 

By

Nowamagbe Omoigui MD, MPH, FACC

Several new stories have appeared in Nigerian newspapers since recent changes in the ministerial set up at Defense. A Presidential spokesman claimed the changes were made to forestall coup plotting.

True, there is something to be said for expanding the surface area of the civil-military interface for decision making at the highest levels. Secondly, it cannot be by accident that those advising Nigeria on the structure of the Defense Ministry and Joint Chiefs are Americans who have Secretaries of the Army, Navy and AirForce in addition to a Defense Secretary in their own system. Thirdly, the fact all three appointees are "pure" civilians assuages concerns among some who had felt that civilian 'supervision' of the Ministry - dominated by retired military personnel - had not come of age in the new democracy. And fourthly, Nigeria being Nigeria, it cannot be just by coincidence that the three Ministers of State President Obasanjo has just appointed - Adelaja, Chuke and Batagarawa - represent specific ethnic interests, thus expanding Defense administrative patronage to two interest groups that had complained the loudest about being politico-militarily marginalized. Why specific ministers of state (i.e. ethnic groups) were given specific portfolios is anyone's guess.

However, it is important that Nigerians be aware that the idea of multiple junior ministers in the Ministry of Defense is not new and certainly (by itself) does not stop coups.

In the first republic, under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, the structure of the Ministry of Defense was similar - although Defense Headquarters per se did not exist then.

Just before Independence, during the period of self rule, our first indigenous Defense Minister was Alhaji Tafawa Balewa. In October 1960, upon becoming substantive Prime Minister of independent Nigeria, Balewa handed over the Defense portfolio to Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu. Ribadu was a very effective and influential pro-military Defence Minister until he died suddenly in April 1965. Thereafter, Alhaji Inua Wada became Defense Minister, a post he held until the first coup of January 15, 1966. However, at the time of the coup he was ill, undergoing treatment in Europe. Thus, the acting Defense Minister was actually Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh who was killed along with the Prime Minister.

The Army and Navy had junior ministers. The AirForce was barely formed after 1964 under a German Officer.

From February 1960 until August 1961, the Army junior minister was Dr. Majekodunmi (who later became acting administrator of the Western region). From August 1961 until December 1962 the position was held by Jacob Obande. From January 1963 until January 1966 the slot was held by Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko Galadima. The Navy junior minister for much of the first republic was none other than Matthew T. Mbu.

But they were all swept aside by the events of January 1966.

Nowa Omoigui Columbia, SC USA

The writer is our honorary analyst on defense and military related issues