Nigeria : Lettre Ouverte des Officiers de l’Armée à Jonathan

Des officiers nigérians combattant Boko haram dans le nord-est du Nigeria ont écrit une lettre ouverte au Président Jonathan dont copie est parvenue au site SaharaReporters. Intitulée «État des opérations dans le Nord-est Selon les Observations des Officiers Concernés », la lettre ouverte commence comme suit : «Nous, officiers concernés par l’opération Zaman Lafiya dans le Nord-Est, prenons la décision d'écrire cette lettre pour les raisons suivantes : a. sauver notre pays, le Nigéria; b. arrêter l'effusion de sang d’innocents officiers, de soldats et de civils dans le Nord-Est; c. faire appel au Président des États-Unis d’Amérique, M. Barack Obama, au Secrétaire Général des Nations Unies, M. Ban Ki Moon et aux autres dirigeants du monde afin qu’ils interviennent le plus vite possible et exhortent le président Goodluck Jonathan à faire le nécessaire pour régler la question de l'insurrection au Nigeria en particulier dans le Nord-est. »

Les officiers qui ont rédigé la lettre ont dit qu'ils étaient dans un premier temps réticents à exposer leurs griefs afin de ne pas remonter le moral des insurgés, mais ont ajouté que les troupes qui luttent contre Boko haram, la secte islamiste terroriste qui a saisi un pan important de territoire du Nigeria dans la zone nord-est, sont mal équipées. En outre, les agents ont accusé M. Jonathan de fermer les yeux sur le pillage des fonds destinés à la guerre contre les insurgés. Ils ont spécifiquement dit que le chef des opérations, le major-général JAH Ewansiha était un grand pilleur des fonds destinés à l’Armée. En outre, la lettre fait état de ce que l'aide de camp de M. Jonathan avait acquis illicitement de prodigieuses richesses qui lui ont permis d'acquérir de coûteuses maisons au Nigeria et à l'étranger. La lettre allègue en outre que de hauts responsables militaires ont intimidé un officier qui a écrit une lettre au président pour nier la paternité d’un document exposant la corruption massive dans l’armée. Voici le texte intégral de la lettre en anglais STATE OF OPERATIONS IN THE NORTH EAST AS OBSERVED BY SOME CONCERNED OFFICERS 1.    We the concerned officers participating in the North East Operation Zaman Lafiya do resolve to write this letter for the following reasons: a.     To save our country Nigeria. b.     To stop the bloodshed of innocent officers, soldiers and civilians in the North East. c.     To appeal to the president of the United State of America Mr. Barrack Obama, United Nation Secretary General Mr. Banki Moon and other world leaders to as quickly as important to intervene and urge President Goodluck Jonathan to do the needful in addressing the issue of insurgency in Nigeria especially in the North East. 2. As members of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is our responsibility to defend our country Nigeria which we are ever ready to do so as the call arises. But firstly, the civil authority has the first responsibility to equip us effectively to enable us to carry out such task. This is common practice all over the world. As professional officers and soldiers, we did not want to go public with details of our frustrations concerning this operation because doing so will boast the moral[e] of our enemy. But the persistent neglect of our plight made us to do otherwise. 3. It is well known fact that of recent, a commanding officer from this theater of operation wrote a letter to our President intimating him of a few out of numerous problems affecting us in this operation which we believe Mr. President will address. It appears Mr. President has chosen to ignore it because none of his relations are among us. In this 21st century, how can an accused [be] a judge of his own case? That letter clearly exposed the rot within the military authorities concerning this operation. This is because, the Army authority that was accused of poor administration in that letter, set up a kangaroo investigation that harass[ed], intimidate[d], and forced the officer to deny the authorship of the letter. 4. We authoritatively learned that, the Army authority succeeded in forcing the officer to deny the letter through the Provost Marshal (Army) who happen[ed] to be of the same tribe with the officer concern[ed]. For President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore such kind of allegation made us to believe the rumor going round that he has a hand or knowledge in the so-called Boko Haram. We are also aware of how the funds meant for these operations are being looted through the office of the Chief of Training and Operations, Major General J.A.H. Ewansiha. Despite our strong [belief] in democracy, we condemn a democratic government that condones corruption, especially in its military. The President is reported to always turn a blind eye to issues of corruption. For instance, the ADC to Mr.President is presently one of the richest officers in the army. He owns properties in choice places all over the country and even abroad. We are going to make public details of his wealth and assets at the appropriate time. 5. We are appealing to all well meaning Nigerians and leaders of International Community to please speak out with loud voice in [order] to make President Jonathan to constitute an independent high-powered committee to investigate the content of that letter written to him by the commanding officer. Should this request be ignored, the resultant consequence could only be imagined. 6. We stand bold to state that we are speaking the minds of all the officers and soldiers in Operation Zaman Lafiya. Concerned Officers and Soldiers of Operation Zaman Lafiya trad. et amené par Binason Avèkes & Ajasa Bolade