Pauls' Quick But Far Away From Smart Moves:
The Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) has retired 12 generals and others in a move to reshuffle the military while Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has made changes to the Central African country’s Ministry of Defence.
Both moves are coming in the wake of the Gabon coup, the latest in a series of military takeovers in Africa. Those were quick but far away from smart moves.
This shows that the only way to bring a failed country back to its senses is to install the military, not forever, but for a short while to restore law and order.
Biya and Kagame created themselves powerful enemies at the time of dismay and uncertainty of reliable allies, the consequences of such decisions in a terrible situations like this are unbearable. It takes a lot to have a reliable ally these days; I hate to lose one.
It's normal to have a powerful enemy, to exercise your prowees and practice deterrence, but not when you're at jeopardy.
Let this be known that you can't dismiss your general(s) over uncertainty of being overthrown; you have no idea how many heads they must have had buried to attain the rank, and how far they can go preserve what is theirs.
Human being are ambitious; particularly men: some desire for riches, some power, glory, and some for women; And here it has to be noted that men must be either pampered or crushed, because they can get revenge for small injuries but not for grievous ones. So any injury a leader does to his cabinets should be of such kind that there's no fear of revenge.
To keep their generals, service chiefs up to the task, the Presidents, on their side, must be considerate towards them, must pay them honour, enrich them, put them in debts, share with them both honours and responsibilities.
Thus, the generals will see how dependants they are on the President, and having riches and honours to the point of surfeit they'll desire no more, holding too many offices they can not but fear change, and think far away from overthrowing the President.
Biya and Kagame duty was only to know what their general and high ranking military officers desire; give it to them or snatch it away from them; in the case of serving general(s) I'll say give it to them because they're untouchable, they needed to be pampered not crushed, they knows too much, If they must be crushed, then kill not dismissal.
Former President Buhari might not be a politician, but he played his card well, with his service chiefs, the moves I admired so much for it was recommendable:
President Buhari appointed the ex-service chiefs in 2015 and refused to bow to the pressure to relieve them of their duties for serving for more than 5 years until they “voluntarily resigned”. Because he knew that they knows too much, and couldn't take chances with them.
Before their “retirement” there were widespread calls for their removal over failure to contain insecurity.
Despite serving for 5 and half years, still couldn't afford to watch them being prosecuted, he shielded them with Article 29 of the Vienna Convention.
Article 29 of the Vienna Convention protects diplomats from arrest and grants them immunity against civil and criminal prosecution.
Article 29 of the convention states:“
Diplomats must not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. They are immune from civil or criminal prosecution, though the sending country may waive this right under Article 32.”
Buhari on February 4, 2021, appointed the ex-service chiefs as non-career Ambassadors, and called on them to deploy their wealth of experience to promote Nigeria’s interest during their tour of duty in countries of accreditation.
Their appointment as Nigeria’s ambassadors to foreign countries sparked public outrage, with calls on the Senate to reject their nominations.
Despite the outrage, the Senate, on February 23, 2021, confirmed their nominations.
This made the service chiefs indebted to Buhari; loyal and allies for eternity and beyond. He shared with them both honours and responsibilities, he gave them offices to handle, they'll definitely think of nothing but fear of change.
"And here it has to be noted that men must be either pampered or crushed, because they can get revenge for small injuries but not for grievous ones. So any injury a President does a man should be of such kind that there's no fear of revenge."- Nicholas Machiavelli
The sharing of smart moves should be transitional for likes of Pauls' to learn from the kind of Buharis'. The Pauls'safety and certainty in office is not guaranteed, they should go back to drawing board.