Pauls' Quick But Far Away From Smart Moves:

 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.

On the Ministerial Portfolio

 On the Ministerial Portfolio:

The North criticizing the ministerial portfolio, the East feels miserable, while some ingrates in the West feels less valued. This clearly signaled that people are loosing confidence within the 100 days in office over compensation instead of competence.

Choosing of Ministers is a matter of no little importance for a President; and their worth depends on the sagacity of the President himself. 

The first opinion that is formed of a President's intelligence is based on the quality of people he has around him. When they're competent and loyal he can always be considered wise, because he has been able to recognize their competence and to keep them loyal. But when they're otherwise, the President is always open to adverse criticism; because his first mistake has been on the choice of his Ministers.

From the earliest days, past glories, and achievements, could but conclude that therefore the President was himself a man of great courage and ability. Above all the wise and intelligent.

Their are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the second appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. The first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third useless.

Going back through the past glories and positions held and delivered by the cabinet will determine which category of the intelligence did the President belongs to; I guess if he did not have the first kind of intelligence, at least the second. 

From the past; we have seen instances where if not all most of the newly and yet to be sworn-in Ministers thinking more of themselves than of the people and the nation at large, seeking their own profit in everything they do, looted or aided in mismanagement of public funds, will such be good Ministers, you'll never be able to trust them.

This is because a man entrusted with the task of government must never think of himself but of the interest of the nation, and must never concern himself with anything except the nation's affairs, for a man entrusted with the tasks of government must remain the people's servant with a common heart. 

How many of the members of the cabinet have petitions against them?

"Matawalle As Zamfara Governor Donated Hilux Vehicles, Millions Of Naira To Bandits."- Sahara Reporters.

" Governor Nyesom Wike Caught On Tape Arranging Bribery Of INEC Officials." Sahara Reporters.

On patriotism:

“Nigeria is a blood expensive tag to have against your name. Leave patriotism for a minute. That tag is a bloody waste of energy. A second foreign passport isn’t sufficient to clean the sin.” Bosun Tweeted. 

"The Nigerian government has written to the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, accusing him of stealing the Covid-19 relief funds donated by the World Bank for alleviation of the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the people of the state." -Sahara Reporters.

"AUDIO : Governor Umahi threatens to kill Peoples Gazette reporters over Ebonyi corruption story." Peoples Gazette

"Pandora  Papers investigation – led by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, including more than 600 journalists, including some from PREMIUM TIMES, reported that huge funds, warehoused offshore, is part of billions of dollars Bagudu helped the Sani Abacha family to steal from Nigeria in the 1990s." - Daily Trust

"While the people of Yobe state wallow in poverty Governor Gaidam taxed the 17 local governments of the state the sum of 20 million naira each as a gift to him for the lavish wedding of his daughter which took place late last year." - Sahara Reporters

Well, I'm not fit enough to stand on the opinion on which category of intelligence did the President belongs to, but I'm not unaware that many have held and hold the opinion that event are controlled by fortune and by God in such a way that the prudence of men cannot modify them, indeed, that men have no influence whatsoever.

Because of this, I come to conclude that there's no point in sweating over things but that one should submit to the rulings of chances.