Yar’Adua: Benjamin Adekunle deserves pardon
Benjamin
Adekunle’s
name was the most dreaded during the 30 months that the Nigerian civil war lasted. He was a war front commander of that time. His other name which became well known than his real name was“black scorpion.” Some other war heroes whose names rang bell loud and clear were Mohammed Shuwa, Murtala Muhammed, Major Ayo Ariyo, etc.
The Biafran soldiers who managed to escape from Adekunle’s onslaught would be able to attest to his militarism particularly the power to manage war machines and men in desperate situations. We who were teenagers then and those older than us can speak of the popularity of Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle. It was obvious that this man did so much during the war, to keep Nigeria one.
The purpose of his heroism was to prevent the disintegration of the country. At that time, many of us believed he had supernatural powers to disappear and reappear at will and that he was invincible. Therefore, based on his highly commendable antecedents, many people who were grown-ups at the time of the war and are still living today, would believe that a great injustice has been done to the man, Benjamin Adekunle. However, the fact that, President Umaru Yar’ Adua has the power to pardon him and restore his pensions which he has not enjoyed for more than 35 years is pleasing.
Benjy pounded the rebels to the point of surrender and when he was asked out of the war zone he persuaded Gowon who was then the head of state, to allow him to finish the war. When he did not leave the battle field on time Gowon had to direct Major Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo to talk to him in his capacity as the then military governor of western Nigeria.
Benjamin Adekunle successfully carried out another assignment to decongest the Nigerian ports. At that time, the ports were so congested that Nigerian bound ships had to discharge their goods in neighbouring countries. Around that time one woman who was alleged to be Benjy’s girl- friend was arrested with hemp in London.He was implicated in the case. The then supreme military council under General Yakubu Gowon, dismissed him from the army and that implied that he would not enjoy his pensions. That punishment on Benjy was too heavy and I wish to implore the powers that be to review his case. The real rebel leader, has been pardoned.And all his pension arrears paid to him with the belief that such magnanimity of the government would in no small way contribute to healing the wounds inflicted by the war.
If the rulers of today are able to adequately ruminate over the matter, they would come to the realisation that Adekunle tried his best along with others to keep Nigeria one.
Oladele Osunbote, Ibadan.
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