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RETIRED GENERALS KNOCK OSHIOMHOLE OVER ILLEGAL MINING ALLEGATION, SAY HE’S MOST DISRESPECTFUL
A former Commander of 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. John Sura (retd.), has described the allegations against the Nigerian Army made by the erstwhile governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, as the highest level of falsehood that anybody can ever peddle.
Oshiomhole had accused some unnamed retired military generals of complicity in illegal mining activities going on across the country.
Oshiomole, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, made the allegation when the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Sampson Ekong, submitted his report before the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
He lamented that steps being taken by President Bola Tinubu-led government to diversify the economy would remain a mirage if the incessant cases of illegal mining in the country were not addressed.
Reacting to the allegation, Sura insisted that no retired general would engage in any activity that undermines Nigeria’s sovereignty,
“As a retired general, your priority is Nigeria. Mining is not meant for just an ordinary person who does not have the resources and licenses to engage in it. Therefore, any allegation that any person is bringing up is just a falsehood and just to paint a dog black in order to kill it,” he said.
Sura argued that most retired generals, aside from those involved in politics, lived a quiet life, relying on their pensions and taking care of their families.
He condemned the allegations as “the highest level of disrespect to the esteemed nature of a general,” adding that both serving and retired officers are trained to prioritise Nigeria’s economic and political stability over personal gains.
Also speaking on the issue, Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) rejected Oshiomole’s claim, stating that he was unaware of any retired general involved in illegal mining.
“As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any retired general behind illegal mining in Nigeria. There is no reason for that. That is misinformation,” he said.
