A lawyer resident in Lagos State has condemned the decision of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to drop the title of “General” from his name.
Ebun Adegboruwa further threatened to sue Buhari for the ‘illegal and immoral’ act, Vanguard reports.
Mr Adegboruwa also said, via a statement, that it was too late for Buhari to drop the title having enjoyed all the benefits attached to it.
The statement reads:
“By virtue of Paragraph 1(1) of the 1st Schedule of the Armed Forces Pensions Act, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) is entitled to, and has indeed been receiving and benefiting from pension, as an officer who held a regular commission, before his retirement.”
“Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) is the official and legal status, title, designation and appellation of our President-elect. He has no choice in the matter, but to continue to carry this cross for life. The military world over is a dignified institution, built on discipline, selflessness, courage, dignity, loyalty and patriotism.”
“It is an institution that everyone should be proud of, except those of them who were trained and equipped by this noble institution, but chose to capture civilian power, through coup d’etat. Buhari attends the Council of State meetings as former Head of State, which office he held in his capacity as a Major-General, which officially qualifies him to earn some benefits, have security aides, salaries, emoluments, diplomatic passports as well as free medical treatment, home and abroad.”
“From all the foregoing, I therefore humbly appeal to the President-elect to continue to bear his official name and status, by which he once climbed to power. I do sincerely sympathise with him on the very sad and distasteful memories that this title attracts to him. But it is his cross to carry.”
Buhari said, in a communiqué released on Sunday, May 17, 2015, that he no longer wished to be addressed as “General.”
The President-elect will be sworn in on May 29.
