Danjuma’s call not invitation to anarchy, says Ibidapo-Obe

Former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Prof Akin
Ibidapo-Obe, has said Lt.-Gen Theophilus Danjuma’s advice that
Nigerians should defend themselves when attacked is not a call to
anarchy.

Ibidapo-Obe reasoned that people had to protect themselves when
their existence is threatened.

Last Friday, Gen. Danjuma (retd) accused the military of taking
sides with a particular group and called on the citizens of the
affected states to defend themselves from the attacks by
herdsmen.

Speaking at the maiden Convocation of the Taraba State
University (TSU), Jalingo, he suggested that the Armed Forces had
failed to protect Nigerians because they collude with the
killers.

Danjuma said: “The Armed Forces are not neutral. They collude
…with the armed bandits that kill people and kill Nigerians. They
facilitate their movement. They cover them.”

The statement has generated a big row with the Army and Minister
of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, rejecting the former Minister of
Defence and elder statesman’s claim.

But Ibidapo-Obe backed the General’s claim that the country had
not demonstrated its capability to protect Nigerians.

He said: “Nigeria being a failing state unable to render
protection to its citizens cannot consider Gen. Danjuma’s call an
invitation to anarchy. “Self-preservation is the first order of
nature and people cannot stand idly by in the face of their
decimation.”

Former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Prof Akin
Ibidapo-Obe, has said Lt.-Gen Theophilus Danjuma’s advice that
Nigerians should defend themselves when attacked is not a call to
anarchy.

Ibidapo-Obe reasoned that people had to protect themselves when
their existence is threatened.

Last Friday, Gen. Danjuma (retd) accused the military of taking
sides with a particular group and called on the citizens of the
affected states to defend themselves from the attacks by
herdsmen.

Speaking at the maiden Convocation of the Taraba State
University (TSU), Jalingo, he suggested that the Armed Forces had
failed to protect Nigerians because they collude with the
killers.

Danjuma said: “The Armed Forces are not neutral. They collude
…with the armed bandits that kill people and kill Nigerians. They
facilitate their movement. They cover them.”

The statement has generated a big row with the Army and Minister
of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, rejecting the former Minister of
Defence and elder statesman’s claim.

But Ibidapo-Obe backed the General’s claim that the country had
not demonstrated its capability to protect Nigerians.

He said: “Nigeria being a failing state unable to render
protection to its citizens cannot consider Gen. Danjuma’s call an
invitation to anarchy. “Self-preservation is the first order of
nature and people cannot stand idly by in the face of their
decimation.”