MAKURDI – A contemporary of retired Maj-Gen Mustapha Jokolo, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, on Thursday said Jokolo was not a failed a soldier, but a victim of military politics.
Tsav stated this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.
He flayed the vituperations of Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Chairman, Northern Elders Forum, over Jokolo’s comments on Vice President Namadi Sambo.
NAN recalls that Jokolo had at a press conference described Sambo as a political liability to the North and advised President Goodluck Jonathan to drop him.
However, in a reaction, Yakassai advised Jokolo, a former Aide de camp (ADC) to former military head of state, Gen. Muhammad Buhari, to channel his advice to his former boss for throwing his hat into the ring to contest for the presidency in 2015.
But Tsav, also a Northerner, disagreed with Yakasai for describing Jokolo as a failed soldier and monarch.
Tsav, a former police commissioner, said Jokolo was not retired from the military on grounds of incompetence but on account of military politics.
“Jokolo was a brilliant and loyal military officer who fell victim to military politics and corrupt society, he was retired due to exigencies of service just like many other military officers,” he said.
He recalled several cases of serving officers who were forced into premature retirement owing to factors connected to military politics.
“When Gen. Yakubu Gowon was toppled as military head of state, his younger brother, Capt. Moses Gowon then of NAF was retired from the military.
“When Shehu Shagari was toppled, his son was retired from the Army, when Buhari and Idiagbon were toppled, Idiagbon’s son was withdrawn from the Defence Academy,” said Tsav.
The ex-police chief also said the 19th Emir of Gwandu was dethroned because of his disagreement with the government in circumstances similar to those that led to the dethronement of Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki.
He chided Yakasai for mocking Jokolo for losing his throne, urging him to fear God and refrain from such mockery as an elder statesman and leader of the Northern Elders Forum.
Besides, he advised Yakasai to use his wealth of experience in politics to woo federal projects in the Northern parts of the country and stop aligning himself unproductively in governance. (NAN)