Okuama killing: Major-General Olanrewaju (rtd) not current on security matters – Group

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The O’odua Integrity Network (OIN) has berated Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd) over his comment on the eligibility of private security outfits protecting the nation’s pipeline assets.

The group expressed the displeasure in a statement jointly signed by its President and Secretary, Chief Adewale Adeosun and Mr Ige Kilanko and made available to newsmen on Sunday, 24 March 2024.

The statement was titled: “Okuama killing of 181 brigade soldiers: Rtd Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju unsolicited misrepresentation of private security oil pipelines surveillance *why would a 78-year-old make himself available for dirty jobs?”

The duo noted that the retired general through his Media Office, on March 21, 2024 purportedly issued a press statement titled, “Non-state actors protecting oil installations, politically, economically unsafe for Nigeria”.

According to the group, the statement indicates that the retired military officer’s knowledge of security matters had long been obsolete after many years in retirement.

They averred that Olanrewaju in his statement, posited that constitutionally recognised military institutions should be established and equipped to do the job of pipeline surveillance through specially trained and strategically built forces like it is attainable in India and Venezuela.

The group said that the statement of the 78-year-old retired Major-General poured venom on the operators of private surveillance security providers engaged by the Federal Government to safeguard the nation’s oil and gas assets, labelling them as militants, thugs and hoodlums, who are not different from bandits.

“Having read this widely circulated press statement, as a Yoruba group familiar with the genesis of the enlistment of the private security providers for safeguarding our national assets, we believed that the ex-General should be enlightened and educated on the matter.

“Our response also became expedient because as a Yoruba group, we are bothered about the public conduct and utterances of our leader, ex-Gen. Olanrewaju in pouring the unwarranted venoms, displayed arrant ignorance and exhibited unpardonable ignorance unexpected of a Yoruba man, with his level of accomplishment.

“We are constrained to disagree with him and clear the air over his needless vituperations.

“Where was the Retired General when former President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR decided to hire private security companies to keep surveillance over Federal Government-owned oil assets? Is it a different military the nation had then than now?

“What prompted former President Buhari to look outside the Nigerian Armed Forces to seek help for the protection of oil pipelines?

Has the prevailing situation changed? We do not need knowledge of rocket science to throw light on the matter,” they said.

The group said that the Armed Forces failed to live up to their duties noting that right under their noses, crude oil thieves took over the nation’s oil production.

They observed that the government lost its major source of foreign exchange earnings, stressing that Nigeria could barely produce 600,000 barrels per day, from its over 2.5 million barrels OPEC quota.

“The old general’s tirades against private security firm’s surveillance of crude oil pipelines, because of the Okuama slaughter of soldiers is unsolicited. It doesn’t resonate.

“The killing of officers and soldiers of the 181 Brigade, Bomadi, has no nexus with pipeline surveillance. General Olanrewaju smelt a rat where there was none.

“Does the communal feud between Okuama and Okoloba communities have any connection with crude oil theft or pipeline surveillance contracts? the answer is No!”

The group noted that through the efforts of the private security companies, crude oil production had climbed to over 1.7 million barrels per day adding that the last report on the economy of the nation showed external foreign reserves of Nigeria had reached $34 Billion.

“The press statement of General Olanrewaju had more diluted intentions than meets the eyes. The local oil thieves and their international backers whose criminal activities were dealt crippling blows by the private security companies, have latched on to the Okuama killings to raise their ugly heads once again.

“How else would one see it, other than, the old soldier is being hired by criminal oil barons or those failed contractors, in their bid to secure the same pipelines contracts to clear the way for them to resume the plunder of the nation’s crude?

“As a retired general and elder statesman, Olanrewaju’s contribution to national discourse could be weighty. He should not make himself a fly in the ointment of the nation. He should not take the country on a tortuous journey back to Egypt.

“General Olanrewaju should take a closer look at those prodding him to take centre stage with his unprofitable advice and suggestions to the government. He should not front for criminals with his well-earned reputation, or else he becomes an economic saboteur.

“The non-state actors or private security companies he criticised have received commendations for their successes in ridding the nation’s waterways of illegal bunkerers, not only from Mr President but also from the Nigerian Army and National Assembly. Even the Nigerian Navy has finally accepted them as worthy associates.

“It’s sad that instead of our revered General Olanrewaju condemning the killings of the soldiers and joining other well-meaning stakeholders to call for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators, he wilfully veered off the matters on hand by seizing the opportunity to serve his benefactors – the oil thieves,” they said.

The group, however, urged the public to ignore the retired general.