WHAT IS GOOD FOR GOVERNOR GOOSE” IS GOOD FOR “GENERAL GANDER!”

   ZION B-BC

 NEWSLETTER.   

 

 A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church Kpeyegyi Abuja Nigeria.  {Vol. 14. NO 627. 26th October 2025} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32).  PRAY & FAST EVERY WEDNESDAY TO STOP BLOODSHED IN NIGERIA!

 

WHAT IS GOOD FOR GOVERNOR GOOSE” IS GOOD FOR “GENERAL GANDER!”

Diarchy is not Democracy! Diarchy (or diarchy), from the Greek word ‘Di’ meaning, “double” and αρχια, “rule”, is a form of government in which two individuals, the diarchs, are the heads of state.

In most diarchies, the diarchs hold their position for life and pass the responsibilities and power of the position to their children or family when they die.

In the Nigerian context diarchy is an unhealthy and unholy “marriage” between two opposite political interest – soldiers and civilians – who had always been at loggerheads, cross purposes!

In spite of the fact that all Nigerian Constitutions are opposed to the seizure of power through unlawful means - Chapter 1, Article 1 (2), the country had witnessed not less than 11 Military Coups in it’s 65 years of INDEPENDENCE?

 The organogram of an Army Administration is a vertical progression which demands unquestionable obedience to both lawful or unlawful orders while the latter is predicated on an horizontal format in which dialogue was always on the Table.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome once posited as follows:

“The diarchy formula is simply an arrangement of expediency. Its proponents expect that it will solve our stability crisis and give the nation a breathing space to move forward. But does it provide a lasting solution to contemporary Nigeria’s political crisis? Diarchy is at best a palliative not a solution.  If the army as an institution is introduced into governance as of right, why not other institutions or professions? After all, the Nigeria Police, the academia or the Church is as entitled to a share of political authority as the Armed Forces. Experience elsewhere shows that expedient accommodation of this sort may create more problems than they solve. 

“Soldier interested in partisan politics should relinquish his appointment and go into politics like any other citizen. This is the vogue in the United States of America, Israel and nearer home in Ghana and Chad. It is a better way than participating in governance through the back door.

“Another reality in diarchy is that the presence of some military people in government will not stop others outside it from nursing ambitions for political power. Nigeria has experienced several coups d’etat – even against military governments. As a matter of fact, such coups are usually more bloody than revolts against civilian governments. 

“The lust for power, wealth and positions induce military personnel to seize power by all means. Civilians and the military are strange bedfellows as colleagues in governance. There is a basic divergence in culture and orientation between military and civilian rulers. “The army is autocratic with an orientation towards imposed order, command and a non-political approach to problems. Civilians are political, accommodating and willing to bargain and compromise conflicting positions. A combination of such incompatibles may not work effectively and indeed harmoniously.

“Proponents of diarchy insist that apart from direct participation of soldiers in government, the system makes them “watchdogs over the conduct of politics and public life”. Advocates of this diarchy option presume that the military are not partisan themselves or are immune from corruption.

“Our best gamble in Nigeria is to embrace democracy by trying to make it work and learning from our mistakes and failures. It is a culture that develops by trial and error. The political history of Europe, the United States of America and Asia shows lessons in the struggle to install democratic order. 

“Diarchy in any form will only deprive the people the benefits of the learning process. Democracy may not be perfect, but diarchy is certainly not its alternative. As Alfred Smith succinctly affirmed: ‘All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.’ ”

30 YEARS OF MILITARY RULE AND 18 YEARS OF DIARCHY IN NIGERIA!

The desperation of Nigerian Politicians to  get back into the saddle of power following the sudden death of maximum Ruler General Sani Abacha, in June 1998, led to  diarchy – an enthronement of retired General as President instead of a Civilian - gave soldiers further audacity to illegally rule a traumatized citizenry through the back door!

 Senile soldiers like Obasanjo and Buhari claimed to be “reformed democrats”, rode rough-shod and bequeathed “Frankenstein Monsters” in the form of terrorists, kidnappers, armed herdsmen including Civil Service “pen robbers” to further compound the Life of the Downtrodden!

AND IN SPITE OF THE COMMOTION IN THE DIARCHY STABLE - MILITARY RETIREES WOULD STILL LIVE LARGER THAN LIFE!

A change of guard of the Military High Command announced recently by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria was laced with extra-ordinary perks that are even bigger than those of retired State Governors!

TINUBU HAD ALWAYS BEEN MORE AFRAID OF SOLDIERS (SERVING OR RETIRED), INSTEAD OF THE CITIZENS WHO “VOTED” HIM INTO OFFICE – HE WAS ONCE A GOVERNOR GOOSE!

 He lavished them in retirement and have provoked “protests by the junior officers:

Retired General Christopher Musa and other sacked Nigerian Service Chiefs are entitled to generous retirement benefits, which include a bulletproof vehicle, an equivalent backup vehicle, and a team of domestic and security aides. They will also receive lifetime medical care in Nigeria and abroad, retain personal firearms, and have a guard unit assigned to them. 

Military will maintain the bulletproof SUV and replace it every four years – including a back-up Peugeot 508 vehicle or equivalent.

 A standard guard unit of nine soldiers, an aide-de-camp or security officer, and a personal assistant or special assistant are attached to each retiree for adequate support.

There are also five domestic aides, consisting of two cooks, two stewards, and one civilian gardener, three service drivers and one service orderly at their beck and call.

Adequate and free and lifetime medical treatment both locally and internationally, are also contained in the package according to media reports! Their personal fire arms will only be retrieved upon their death. 

CIVILIAN GOVERNORS HAD SET THE PRECEDENCE OF RETIREMENT LARGESSE!

On retirement after four to eight years in government, a Nigerian Governor (who collected an annual NGN3 billion naira as SECURITY VOTES (of which account was never required ), is entitled to the following benefits:

1) Life pension: Often set at the rate of the incumbent governor’s salary. 

2) A house in a state capital and/or Abuja, sometimes including furniture. 

3) Several new cars every few years.

4) Free medical treatment for the ex-governor and their family. 

5) Entitlement to domestic staff and security personnel. 

6) Other allowances may include furniture, entertainment, and car maintenance allowances according to each State’s-specific laws.

Each state has its own pension law, leading to variations in the benefits received and in spite of public outcry, the generous benefits have sparked public criticism and debate over their sustainability, especially when compared to the pensions of other civil servants. 

Some former governors who have been elected to the National Assembly continue to collect state pensions while receiving a salary as a senator, leading to legal and ethical questions and there have been legal challenges to the constitutionality of these state laws. 

We understand that some States, such as Abia, Kwara, Imo, and Zamfara, have already repealed their pension laws for ex-governors. 

AS OPPOSED TO DIARCHY, “DEMOCRACY IS GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.”

But some schools of thought belief that Nigeria’s only window of democracy was during the short -lived Regional Parliamentary System Government of Azikiwe/Tafawa Balewa between 1st October 1960-15th January 1966, before military adventurists overturned the stage and would still prefer it to a very prodigal and wasteful Presidential Diarchy!

In 65 years as an independent nation, there can be no better time than now to opt for a ONE-HOUSE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT – A GRASSROOT-APPROACH – that will produce an acceptable PRIME MINISTER who will sit in Parliamentary and serve the PEOPLE!

There can be no more delay. This is the appointed time.

[EXPECT A PRIME MINISTER IN NIGERIA NOW!]

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to:  facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com,

Please look forward to divine revelations in  The Sure Word Gospel Tracts, Our divinely inspired books on the Amazon KINDLE Store Namely: The Unbroken Chain of Grace, Nigeria’s Pot Pourri (Volumes 1-5), Godly Politicking For World Peace,  and The Wedding Mascot Died

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray  this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament in your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and personal Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations!

I am yours sincerely, THE WATCHMAN Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08058436756. g-mail-dvdolufon@gmail.