The concept of strategic thinking and the ability to evolve a strategic doctrine, be it in the field of foreign affairs, diplomacy, international relations and global and domestic security, does not come easy.
Little wonder that to belong to the elite and highly astute league of strategic thinkers, who configure the linkage between seemingly unrelated events in order to crystallize a strategic doctrine that would guide political, economic, industrial, diplomatic and military/cum security action, is indeed a herculean feat.
In the emerging post- war era, only a few select generals, diplomats, public officers and elder statesmen e.g. Generals Dwight Eisenhower, Bernard Montgomery, Marshall Zhukov; secretaries of state like John Foster Dulles, Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew, Brezezinski, Madeleine Albright and Jeanne Kirkpatrick (former US Ambassador to the UN) belonged to the erudite league of strategic thinkers that innovatively crafted a diplomatic master plan that formed the blueprint for bilateral and multi-lateral interventions and activities in the cold war and post-cold war era.
In the Nigerian military/security matrix, one deeply perceptive, imaginative and at the same time realistic personality that has, without doubt, emerged as a globally renowned and highly revered strategic thinker is no less an eminent personality than General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the much-decorated Chief of Defence Staff, equivalent to the Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff of the United States.
In the Nigerian security milleau, a savvy General Christopher Musa has brought his avowed doctrine to bear in addressing the myriad of security challenges facing the nation, since his epochal appointment as Chief of Defence Staff by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
The deft and proactive approach of the famed CDS in tackling insecurity has emphasized a holistic methodology that connects criminal activity with the socio-economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens in the country.
General Christopher Musa has stated categorically that tackling insecurity involves the adoption of kinetic and non-kinetic tactics to address the root causes of criminality, armed robbery, terrorism, insurgency, kidnappings, separatist agitation and organized crime.
Indeed, the able CDS has posited that kinetic tactics might be just 30% of the whole while non-kinetic methods account for the remaining total.
According to a perceptive Gen Christopher Musa, ameliorating the socio-economic situation of Nigerians will give everyone a sense of belonging in the nation’s scheme of things and will drastically reduce Nigeria’s insecurity indices, further boosting his avowed non-kinetic anti-terrorism strategy.
This non-kinetic plank aligns with the CDS’ glowing credentials as a globally renowned strategic thinker with his emphasis on fairness, equity, justice and accountability which would go a long way towards enhancing peace, security and stability nationwide.
Undoubtedly, the CDS storied tenure has witnessed a tremendous improvement in the nation’s security sphere as the active deployment of his awesome strategic calculus was
instrumental in the summary routing of Boko Haram terrorists, armed bandits, kidnappers and their collaborators in the Northeast and Northwestern parts of the country.
While the defence boss is of amiable disposition and is widely regarded for his inclusive and accommodating leadership style which is open to all persons, ideas, opinions and perspectives irrespective of ethnic, religious or sectional affiliation as far as they are geared towards moving the nation forward in all positive ramifications; General Christopher Musa is utterly ruthless and uncompromising in the security and military sphere.
His commitment to the safety of the nation’s citizens, the security of private and public properties, facilities, installations and infrastructure is ironclad and sacrosanct and he has never hesitated in wielding the big stick to root out criminal and terrorist deviants of all stripes and colours.
Also unshakable, unrelenting and unwavering is his fervent belief and dedication to the indestructibility, indissolubility and indivisibility of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as constitutionally constituted and guaranteed QED.
Indeed General Christopher Musa is an outstanding military paragon who insists on not moving with the pack or going along with conventional wisdom; rather the much decorated security supremo regularly thinks outside the box and painstakingly analyses data, info and crucial intel in detail before taking decisive action which in all cases has achieved the desired results by decisively countering and nipping security threats in the bud while neutralising or disarming terrorists, bandits and assorted criminal enterprises wherever they may be ensconced.
A fastidious and highly dedicated General Christopher Musa resolutely burns the midnight oil in order to ensure the safety and security of lives and properties across the nation in his onerous brief as CDS and he has definitely made his mark in the nation’s military, security and public safety reckoning.
Crucially, the Chief of Defence Staff is an acclaimed strategic thinker, military doctrinnaire and intellectual avatar of no mean pedigree who has distinctively made his mark in his previous and present military deployments.
He is a proud alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, the National Defence University, the international College of Defence Studies, the University of Lagos, and has meritoriously served as the Deputy Chief, Staff Training/Operations Headquarters lnfantry Training Corps; Commander Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole, Commander Sector 3, Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Region amongst other challenging deployments.
Indeed, a purposeful, focused and result-oriented General Christopher Musa has made a hugely positive difference as intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, surveillance and joint counter-insurgency operations has seen a remarkable uptick nationwide resulting in the unprecedented decimation and neutralisation of criminal/ terrorist networks and their unrepentant foot soldiers in his gloried sojourn as CDS.
Hundreds of thousands of repentant terrorists have since surrendered and laid down their arms while the foolhardy ones are either on the run or have succumbed to the superior firepower of our gallant men and women in uniform. General Musa’s much admired synergistic approach has seen an emphasis on joint operations and the co-ordination of operations amongst the Army, Navy, and Air Force, alongside paramilitary and civilian security outfits.
The recalibration of Operation Hadin Kai which was inaugurated to replace Operation Lafiya Dole is a crucial step along with the formation of Super Camps which boosts the military’s presence in pivotal locations thereby giving the troops the necessary reserve flexibility to carry our rapid and precise counterinsurgency operations thus taking the enemy by surprise and neutralising them completely.
Admirably, the resolute, principled, courageous and immensely patriotic General Christopher Musa has raised the public safety ante several notches higher, and as a result, the nation’s security profile has continued to improve in leaps and bounds thus justifying the trust and confidence which the entire citizenry reposes in him as the top defence czar.
Fittingly, General Musa is succeeding where others had struggled or failed woefully due to his renowned technical competence, unvarnished integrity, legendary expertise and an uncommon knack for getting the job done irrespective of any seemingly insurmountable obstacles or challenges in his avowed path.
One notable achievement of the trailblazing Chief of Defence Staff is the drastic rescue of the 330 Chibok schoolgirls, including women and children, from the clutches of the notorious Boko Haram elements in the Sambisa Forest recently, a tremendous milestone that has engraved General Christopher Musa’s name indelibly in the annals of history.
Having burnished his positive credentials as a strategic thinker of note and worth, it is not surprising that General Christopher Musa has enlisted the partnership, cooperation and joint operation of institutions, groups and agencies both local and foreign dedicated to the improvement and advancement of public safety and security in all its ramifications. Co-ordination of intelligence gathering, strengthening of the nation’s offensive capabilities in order to lead a formidable axis against insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, separatists and terrorist groupings nationwide is another vestige of General Christopher Musa’s holistic security imprimatur.
Modernisation of the Nigerian armed forces with the procurement of modern armaments, strengthening aerial surveillance units, enhancing cyber warfare capabilities while equipping the combat forces with formidable technological systems and skills through advanced training and strategic partnerships with other military formations across the globe has formed the core of the joint partnerships which decisively paid off given the increased confidence and collaboration between the security agencies and their assets in the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-intelligence offensive mandated by the Presidency. Undoubtedly, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the bold, courageous, decisive, resolute, principled and supremely dedicated Chief of Defence Staff has come, he has seen and he is decisively vanquishing the myriad of foes, enemies and threats confronting his beloved fatherland. By the Grace of God, he shall conquer!
BY GABRIEL ELEOJO, A PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST, WHO WROTE IN FROM JOS, PLATEAU STATE
