There is this ex crept i borrowed from one of our officer by the name of 'Abiodun Awolaja Monday' from the Oyo State command and it goes as thus
“Man O’War bay, hei! Action people, he! Dem dey come o; Commot for road O. See them boot, as e dey shine!”
And then everyone would give way. No agbero would dare to stand in our way. Lagos in the 1990s. Whether in traffic control, environmental sanitation or the training of youths for national development, we were recognised as a formidable paramilitary force. But today...
Even within the media world, a lot of eminent Nigerians do not know what Man O’War really is. Is it just another Boys Brigade, maybe? When I joined Man O’War in 1993, you dared not come to meeting with a Boys Brigade ID card: it would be torn. Why? Man O’War is serious business. I still remember that day when Nigeria defeated Zambia in Tunisia 94. Is any of my bosses reading this? Well, we were at Mile 2, Lagos, undergoing an examination, including a written test, parade and interview. The Lagos command may wish to recall the comments of the soldier who was on hand to handle his own part in our training: he said if he left the Army, he could only join the Man O’War. That, really, is the position of soldiers. They would rather join Man O’War than the Nigeria Police. I suppose that I shall always be able to be part of a route march.
In those days, if you wished to join the Nigerian armed forces, Man O’War was the place to be. Nigerians who wish to know more about Man O’War may wish to google my “CLTC: An underutilised national resource?” In the essay under reference, I pointed out that the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, was backed by an ordinance published in the extra-ordinary Gazette No 45 of August 10, 1960 and modified by Decree No 38 of December, 1989, and that Man O’ War Nigeria, its field arm, is a Federal Government establishment. For you to identify the true Man O’War, look for the CLTC badge. Man O’War is a property of the Federal Government; it is a creation of statute.
As a patriotic Nigerian, I am happy to be a Man O’War bay.(Kele oo o e don happen; kele kele asun kele, haya haya!), though not very active for reasons of other national responsibilities. For a start, though, there is no soldier anywhere in Nigeria that has not undergone Man O’War training and it is not a joke. It is serious business. Minus the armed forces, I do not know of any training anywhere that is tougher than ours. None. If this is a boast, I would like anyone with contrary information to come forward. Members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been doing very well, but Man O’War trained and still trains them, together with cadets from any security agency(Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, etc), and even civilians. Man O’War is just like Nigerian Pidgin, used and dumped though an invaluable asset. Why has government so callously abandoned Man O’War, an agency which belongs to it, older and more valuable than most of these latter day agencies? If Man O’War trains personnel from EVERY security agency in the country, why has it so been callously neglected by the Federal Government, rather than commissioned and upgraded for greater national relevance and as a way of enhancing national security? Certainly, men of the Army would be pleased to death to work with Man O’War Nigeria.
It is a shame that even policemen now harass Man O’War officers, something they would never have dared to do years back. To think that these people CANNOT wear any pip without passing through Man O’War training, and then they would turn against Man O’War after it had already trained them, leaves a sour taste in the mouth. But kudos to police officers like Tambari Mohammed, the former Oyo State police CP, who appreciates the relevance of Man O’War Nigeria.
The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, with schools spread across the six geopolitical zones in the country, is noted for operations based on the following guiding principles: superior standard and an extensive range of first-class guest services; direct dramatic experiences in new surroundings to help those taking part discover their strength, build their confidence and re-examine their ideals and values; personal development using social challenges, the mountain, the jungles, and the sea as means of personal growth; adaptability, self discipline, resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of challenges and uncertainty; active participation in the setting up of a supportive residential community. In addition, it encourages participants in any of its courses to cooperate with other participants, to give service to and to accept responsibility for others; stimulate the imagination and sense of adventure and foster true appreciation and concern for the environment, while placing emphasis on practical work in small group, with adequate time for reflection, discussion and critical appraisal.
Man O’War is not the same as Boys Scout or anything of the sort, though we should, of course, appreciate that organisation (Boys Scout). Nigerian youths have excellent opportunities to realise their potentialities in Man’ O War Nigeria. If you wish to be a sports person, its mind and physical training is bound to enhance your capabilities. If you have watched a parade, you have probably seen the deep poetry behind it. Whether you are on slow or quick March, carpet march, jakoroko ja (Principal, o o igbosa, jakoroko ja!), you are engaging in an endeavour which thrives on team work. No single person undertakes a successful parade; it is team work. What earned me the dirtiest slap of my life on that great footballing day was someone else’s mistake, but that is the nature of parades. You mess up; you mess others up.
Serious nations do not joke with matters of security. Only a country like Nigeria would ignore a heavily equipped organisation like Man O’War. Finally, I would like to say that I have written this short piece with every sense of responsibility, believing that the Federal Government would rise up to its responsibility, commission Man O’War Nigeria, and stop treating it as if it were inferior to any of the other paramilitary agencies when, indeed, it is, by training, inferior to no paramilitary agency. Man O’War na soldier pickin. That is why no other paramilitary agency has the desert camouflage as part of its uniform. The Nigeria Police are coming behind Man O’War Nigeria in the use of the camo. President Mohamed Buhari has an excellent opportunity to make history by redressing the wrong done to Man O’War. And if anyone, in reading this, thinks that I have exaggerated the capabilities or seriousness of Man O’War, I advise that person to link up with the Nigerian Army, or register for a course at the Sea School, Lagos. Such a person would become “gentle” in a matter of minutes.
Man O’War will get its hard-earned due.
MAN O WEE
LONG LIVE THE FEDRAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
LONG LIVE ESUT
LONG LIVE MAN O WAR
COMRADE PRECIOUS .I. U. Signing out of War Bay.
“Man O’War bay, hei! Action people, he! Dem dey come o; Commot for road O. See them boot, as e dey shine!”
And then everyone would give way. No agbero would dare to stand in our way. Lagos in the 1990s. Whether in traffic control, environmental sanitation or the training of youths for national development, we were recognised as a formidable paramilitary force. But today...
Even within the media world, a lot of eminent Nigerians do not know what Man O’War really is. Is it just another Boys Brigade, maybe? When I joined Man O’War in 1993, you dared not come to meeting with a Boys Brigade ID card: it would be torn. Why? Man O’War is serious business. I still remember that day when Nigeria defeated Zambia in Tunisia 94. Is any of my bosses reading this? Well, we were at Mile 2, Lagos, undergoing an examination, including a written test, parade and interview. The Lagos command may wish to recall the comments of the soldier who was on hand to handle his own part in our training: he said if he left the Army, he could only join the Man O’War. That, really, is the position of soldiers. They would rather join Man O’War than the Nigeria Police. I suppose that I shall always be able to be part of a route march.
In those days, if you wished to join the Nigerian armed forces, Man O’War was the place to be. Nigerians who wish to know more about Man O’War may wish to google my “CLTC: An underutilised national resource?” In the essay under reference, I pointed out that the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, was backed by an ordinance published in the extra-ordinary Gazette No 45 of August 10, 1960 and modified by Decree No 38 of December, 1989, and that Man O’ War Nigeria, its field arm, is a Federal Government establishment. For you to identify the true Man O’War, look for the CLTC badge. Man O’War is a property of the Federal Government; it is a creation of statute.
As a patriotic Nigerian, I am happy to be a Man O’War bay.(Kele oo o e don happen; kele kele asun kele, haya haya!), though not very active for reasons of other national responsibilities. For a start, though, there is no soldier anywhere in Nigeria that has not undergone Man O’War training and it is not a joke. It is serious business. Minus the armed forces, I do not know of any training anywhere that is tougher than ours. None. If this is a boast, I would like anyone with contrary information to come forward. Members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been doing very well, but Man O’War trained and still trains them, together with cadets from any security agency(Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, etc), and even civilians. Man O’War is just like Nigerian Pidgin, used and dumped though an invaluable asset. Why has government so callously abandoned Man O’War, an agency which belongs to it, older and more valuable than most of these latter day agencies? If Man O’War trains personnel from EVERY security agency in the country, why has it so been callously neglected by the Federal Government, rather than commissioned and upgraded for greater national relevance and as a way of enhancing national security? Certainly, men of the Army would be pleased to death to work with Man O’War Nigeria.
It is a shame that even policemen now harass Man O’War officers, something they would never have dared to do years back. To think that these people CANNOT wear any pip without passing through Man O’War training, and then they would turn against Man O’War after it had already trained them, leaves a sour taste in the mouth. But kudos to police officers like Tambari Mohammed, the former Oyo State police CP, who appreciates the relevance of Man O’War Nigeria.
The Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, with schools spread across the six geopolitical zones in the country, is noted for operations based on the following guiding principles: superior standard and an extensive range of first-class guest services; direct dramatic experiences in new surroundings to help those taking part discover their strength, build their confidence and re-examine their ideals and values; personal development using social challenges, the mountain, the jungles, and the sea as means of personal growth; adaptability, self discipline, resourcefulness and perseverance in the face of challenges and uncertainty; active participation in the setting up of a supportive residential community. In addition, it encourages participants in any of its courses to cooperate with other participants, to give service to and to accept responsibility for others; stimulate the imagination and sense of adventure and foster true appreciation and concern for the environment, while placing emphasis on practical work in small group, with adequate time for reflection, discussion and critical appraisal.
Man O’War is not the same as Boys Scout or anything of the sort, though we should, of course, appreciate that organisation (Boys Scout). Nigerian youths have excellent opportunities to realise their potentialities in Man’ O War Nigeria. If you wish to be a sports person, its mind and physical training is bound to enhance your capabilities. If you have watched a parade, you have probably seen the deep poetry behind it. Whether you are on slow or quick March, carpet march, jakoroko ja (Principal, o o igbosa, jakoroko ja!), you are engaging in an endeavour which thrives on team work. No single person undertakes a successful parade; it is team work. What earned me the dirtiest slap of my life on that great footballing day was someone else’s mistake, but that is the nature of parades. You mess up; you mess others up.
Serious nations do not joke with matters of security. Only a country like Nigeria would ignore a heavily equipped organisation like Man O’War. Finally, I would like to say that I have written this short piece with every sense of responsibility, believing that the Federal Government would rise up to its responsibility, commission Man O’War Nigeria, and stop treating it as if it were inferior to any of the other paramilitary agencies when, indeed, it is, by training, inferior to no paramilitary agency. Man O’War na soldier pickin. That is why no other paramilitary agency has the desert camouflage as part of its uniform. The Nigeria Police are coming behind Man O’War Nigeria in the use of the camo. President Mohamed Buhari has an excellent opportunity to make history by redressing the wrong done to Man O’War. And if anyone, in reading this, thinks that I have exaggerated the capabilities or seriousness of Man O’War, I advise that person to link up with the Nigerian Army, or register for a course at the Sea School, Lagos. Such a person would become “gentle” in a matter of minutes.
Man O’War will get its hard-earned due.
MAN O WEE
LONG LIVE THE FEDRAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
LONG LIVE ESUT
LONG LIVE MAN O WAR
COMRADE PRECIOUS .I. U. Signing out of War Bay.
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