Major General Appellation: Presidency Replies Punch Newspaper
The Presidency has reacted to the decision by the Punch Newspapers to start referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a Major General.
The Newspaper in an editorial published Wednesday said it took the decision due to the way and manner the Department of State Security, DSS disrespected the court by arresting Omoyele Sowore within the precinct of the Court.
But Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity in a statement said that the president got the rank through dint of hard work and that there was nothing to be ashamed of.
‘A newspaper says it will henceforth address President Muhammadu Buhari by his military rank of Major General.
Nothing untoward in it. It is a rank the President attained by dint of hard work before he retired from the Nigerian Army. And today, constitutionally, he is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
‘All over the world, just as in our country, a large number of retired military officers are now democrats. It does not make those who did not pass through military service better than them.
‘Rather than being pejorative, addressing President Buhari by his military rank is another testimony to free speech and freedom of the press, which this administration (or regime, if anyone prefers: it is a matter of semantics) has pledged to uphold and preserve.
