I have noted with dismay that discipline which is the bedrock of military service is on the decline. I have had an occasion to alert you about collusion with smugglers and brow-beating civilians''.
—Okhai Akhigbe, The Nigerian Navy, Facing the Challenges of our Time, DVI Lagos. 1996.

''Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary'' —Reinhold Niebuhr.

''Our Democracy will guarantee you justice''
—Governor Tunde Fashola of Lagos state to Ms. Okere.

The sexy gleaming satin white of the Navy badge is not only the primary differentiating mark that separates the Naval officer from his other proud colleagues of the Air force, the Marines, the Army.

While the Army, the Air force, and the other fighting units, have territorial limitations the Navy is the only international force that is by and large unlimited, allowing a national Navy enjoy and operate in the sea, the vast oceans, where the naval codes, which are usually universal allow the compliments of the ships communicate and speak a common language of the sea and ships.

Hence there is a mad rush by the US Navy to help in the salvation of a sinking Russian submarine off the shores of Japan. Ditto, is the concern and immediate help, is organized by the Canadian Navy once the skipper’s signals show that a Norwegian fishing boat is in trouble up in the cold straights of Sarah Palin’s Alaska.

The history of the world is replete with wars which was caused by the ambition of Emperors and Nations who desired to control the sea lines. Therefore, whenever, these Titans went ahead to build formidable navies to own those international waterways, somebody may decide to go to war to stop them.

The same history inform us that there were indeed small navies and very effective little navies that changed the outcome of many wars in  the last five centuries. However, it is noteworthy to observe that it was the Greeks that built the first formidable Navy of the world.

(See The Small Navies Of the World; From the Phonicians ,...Somali Navy, South Carolina Navy to the Biafran Navy.... Juango Pardo, Emma Okocha Summer Mi Publications, Portugal, Fall 2008).

The Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Inland Water ways were carved out of the good old Nigerian Marines as separate departments and an independent force in 1964. The Nigerian Navy had its greatest test at the outbreak of the civil war.

Under the courageous leadership of its most outstanding officer of the war, Captain Soror, the Nigerian Navy threw back the equally brave challenge from the Biafran Navy, a small Navy built in the six months of that war.

The Biafran Navy with erstwhile Nigerian young Naval officers; fighting leatherneck Captain Ndubuisi Kanu, the good old 'Gadaffi', Ebitu Ukiwe and Alex Madueke. There were other sad highlights.

My uncle, the beautiful Captain Nwaogalanya was roasted when he obeyed the Biafran High Command’s suicide orders to confront the menacing and durable NNS Nigeria with an ill-equipped Biafran gunboat.

From that war, the Nigerian Navy like its other brother forces have been recognised as a major force not only in the West African region but in Peace Keeping operations all round the globe. After the Festac, the Nigerian Navy was in Brazil receiving a grand welcome.

It was the Nigerian Navy that moved in men and resources to Liberia and the Sierre Leone to restore Democracy to those countries when they were threatened by unrepentant bedroom Napoleons.

These are the garlands on deck and carried about by our own officers and gentlemen before the Lagos street drama of one of its top officers, Admiral Harry Arogundade. An Admiral of the navy by our presumptions as in our opening premise posit that an Admiral must have commanded ships from SDBs, Covets, Frigates, Destroyers, Cruisers, Sub Marines to the ultimate ... the Carriers. Otherwise called the 'Floating Village' To attain the status of an Admiral is not a buying a loaf of bread at Ojuelegba market!

Admiral Harry Arongundade was the tragic hero of the latest Lagos traffic drama, that ended with the molestation and disgrace of a Nigerian citizen, in the hands of Naval Ratings.

They went to war against a fair Lady in full glare of a frustrated Lagos people transfixed on a spot to watch the nightmare.

For those of us who went to college (Eko for show) in Lagos, and have been resident there for a greater part of our adult life, many will advise you to jolly well accept with clenched teeth the battering of soldier maniacs, the undeserved punishments of Air Force bull dogs than have the misfortune to run into the guardrooms of Lagos Naval Ratings.

The same fear and respect is accorded to the Navy by the underworld. Armed robbers sometimes for the sport, may tempt the Police and the so-called Mobile Units, and spar with them exchanging bullets in the night... (these Mobile Boys ... their specialty is to rig elections) and even mix it up with the army, but they dare not approach the sentry manned by the Naval Ratings!

Apart from their weapons, the navy wild Ratings complete their street armory by carrying along chains and chains!

Having prepared you to approach the 'loco soto', we shall with open heart try the case from the depositions made by the Navy’s own Public Relations officer. He said that the Admiral ordered the ‘Ratings to bring the lady to him’.

He said the ‘Lady challenged his order and the Ratings ... ....’  we stop there. And as the GOC sitting on this Court martial, this our verdict:

The Courtmartial find the Admiral guilty on three counts.

¨An umbrage has been committed against the Geneva Conventions on the issue of the treatment of civilians, especially women in Combat. Even in the most savage societies women are sacrosanct and are spared in battles. The Lagos Traffic is a war zone. Simplicita.

¨Admiral, you failed woefully to uphold your Naval pledge made on the first day you signed the Attestation form.... to defend and protect the citizens and the territorial waters, land and air of Nigeria. Admiral, you ordered your dogs to bring the lady to you...Is she your wife or your daughter?

When in your air conditioned car you saw your people forcing her towards you, what was your reaction?

¨You have by your selfish action of taking on anything to evade the long delay, debunked the reverence, reserved to the Navy. Hollywood  you remember, Admiral, did not play an Air force officer or an Army Officer… a Naval Officer played in that famous Hollywood movie ; The Officer And A Gentleman.

Having found you guilty on all counts, it is the conclusion of the tribunal, to recommend your disgraceful discharge from the Armed Forces.

However, as the GOC of this Court martial, and aware of the fact that you are a truly tragic hero, in this case, I move for your immediate demotion from Admiral to Commodore. You will remain in the Navy as a reminder to all, that Democracy is more than winning elections.

The Nigerian tragedy is everywhere; in the ill-maintained roads, the explosion of its officer corps with hundreds of retired Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals.

Air Marshals without any flying hours or command fleet; Admirals who have been put on the retreat by a surging revolution in the swamps of the Delta led by red tattoed rag-tag militia of believers. Captains without  Ships, Generals without Armies.

The Court martial is dismissed. Take away the Admiral!

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