BALANCING SECURITY AND LIBERTY: Rethinking Civil–Military Relations

                                     INTRODUCTION

The paper explores the challenge of balancing security and liberty, particularly in developing democracies like Nigeria, where the military plays a dual role as both a protector of the state and, at times, a suppressor of dissent.

This dual role raises important questions about how to ensure a cordial and harmonious relationship between civilians and the military within a democratic system. It highlights how military involvement in politics, especially through coups, has weakened democratic institutions and civilian authority in Africa.

 Using Nigeria as a key example, the paper examines the lasting impact of military rule and ongoing challenges such as ethnic bias and politicized recruitment. It concludes that strong civilian control, merit-based systems, and robust democratic institutions are essential to ensure the military supports rather than undermines democracy.

                                    MAIN FINDINGS

The military is a vital institution responsible for national defence and security. However, it can also serve as an instrument of suppression, limiting freedoms and abusing human rights if there is no proper ability to control it. In such situations, regimes are likely to fall.

Many African countries today have faced, either in recent times or historically, what is known as a 'coup d’état’ a military intervention to take over government. This often leads to regimes that oppress citizens’ freedoms and fundamental human rights. In contrast, in a democratic state, civilian authorities are expected to control military institutions as part of established norms and political culture, such as in the United States of America and other developed countries.

However, the opposite is the case in some developing countries like Nigeria, which has been a victim of military intervention. A clear example is the regime of General Sani Abacha, one of the most dictatorial and tyrannical governments recorded in Nigeria. During his rule, the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists led to international reactions, including travel bans and economic embargoes. After his death, the military agreed to hand over power to civilians through a pact facilitating a transition to democracy.

This transition was constitutionally formalized by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which designates the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Chapter VI, Section 218(2)). This provision establishes a framework for civilian oversight of the military, ensuring that it serves to protect national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the fundamental rights of citizens.

In the book titled ‘Lead Me, Follow Me, or Get Out of My Way’, Bruce Ackerman argues for the exclusion of the military from society, citing the increasing politicization of the institution. In contrast, Diane Mazur advocates for the inclusion of the military in society. Her work calls for dismantling the recently constructed legal barriers that have separated the armed forces from the rest of society, aiming to challenge and reform the rules that limit how society engages with and discusses the military.

It has been claimed that the constitutional linchpins of human rights are four key elements: regular elections, habeas corpus (A legal right that protects a person from being imprisoned without a valid reason), freedom of expression, and civilian control of the military. These elements work together to prevent arbitrariness in government. Without these safeguards, the protection of fundamental human rights is significantly weakened.

 Civilian control of the military refers to a system in which the armed forces are subordinate to elected civilian authorities, such as the government and political institutions. As Mao Tse-tung stated in 1929, “The party must control the gun, and the gun must not be allowed to control the party,” highlighting the importance of civilian authority over military power. The military does not interfere in politics but instead implements decisions made by civilian leaders while maintaining its professional integrity.

 Therefore, civilian leadership must exercise consistent and reliable control over the state’s security apparatus to prevent the military from becoming an instrument of dissent suppression. Without proper control of the military, almost any regime is likely to fall. For example, in Tunisia, the military refused to support the long-standing regime in the face of a popular uprising, which led to the rapid fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Similarly, a confrontation that occurred on November 11 in Nigeria between the F.C.T. Minister, Nyesom Wike, and a gallant lieutenant officer, A.M. Yerima, serves as a warning sign.

 It reflects how the decline of one of the constitutional linchpins the “civilian control of the military” can arise due to military indiscipline, thereby drawing urgent attention to the dangers of a possible coup d’état. This is particularly significant given Nigeria’s history of military intervention, which the country has sought to overcome since the return to civilian rule in 1999 as a democratic state.

According to Plato, a philosopher, in his book ‘The Republic’, society is divided into three parts, analogous to the parts of the human body. The Head represents the rulers, who possess intellect, reason, and wisdom necessary to govern society. The Heart represents the military, whose role is to serve as guardians and protect the nation from external threats, not to silence dissent or rule despite their courage.

The stomach, or lower body represents artisans and producers often known as The Masses. They are driven by appetites and responsible for providing the need of society. According to Plato, if the masses rule, it may lead to mob democracy, while if the military rules, it can result in tyranny and dictatorship. Such governments suppress citizens’ fundamental rights and limit freedoms, as seen during the regime of Sani Abacha (1993–1998) in Nigeria and the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko in Congo, which was marked by political crises, including the events surrounding the nationalist leader Patrice Lumumba.

Similarly In an article titled “Unable to Escape Societal Influence: Nigeria’s Military in the Counterinsurgency War and the Imperative for the Securitization” it was viewed that The military in Nigeria today faces significant difficulties regarding loyalty whether to remain loyal to the state or to ethnic affiliations. Additionally, there are serious challenges in the recruitment process. Instead of recruiting the military based on merit, skills, and qualifications, recruitment is sometimes influenced by ethnic background or political connections, especially through politicians and their families.

This flawed recruitment system creates internal weaknesses within the military, including the possibility of infiltration by spies. Such weaknesses have contributed to security breaches, including attacks on military formations, such as the Kuje prison break carried out by Boko Haram insurgents. Therefore, the military needed to be properly securitized such as ensuring recruitment is strictly based on merit, skills, and qualifications and reducing ethnic and political interference in military affairs, strengthening internal security and intelligence within the military and promoting professionalism and loyalty to the state above all other affiliations.

WAYS TO SAFEGUARD SECURITY AND LIBERTY THROUGH CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN AFRICA

First, In Romans 13:1–2, it is stated in the Holy Bible: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” This implies that military officers should act in obedience to the national command authority in the legitimate pursuit of national security and related objectives.

Secondly, military personnel should conduct themselves in a politically neutral manner in public affairs. It ensures that the armed forces serve the nation, not a particular party or leader

Thirdly, the armed forces should be appropriately equipped and adequately trained to carry out their assigned tasks effectively.

Fourthly, Civilian leaders provide military leadership with the necessary capabilities. Through their control of budgets, procurement, and policy priorities, they ensure the military has the resources needed to carry out its duties, reinforcing civilian oversight.

                                     CONCLUSION

        For Nigeria to effectively balance security and liberty, the military must be professional, neutral, and merit-driven, with recruitment free from political and ethnic interference, while institutions ensure accountability and respect for human rights.

However, this must be supported by good governance, strong institutions, economic opportunities, social unity, and justice and accountability, as only the combination of these can truly achieve security, protect liberty, and sustain democracy.

REFERENCES

Claude E. Welch, Jr. Civilian Control of the military: myth and reality

 Iwu N.H & Adegbola O. Unable To Escape Societal Influence: Nigeria’s Military in the counterinsurgency war and the imperative for the securitization vol. 8 No.2 (2023) Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of political science

Mark R. Shulman. Lead me, follow me or get out of my way: Rethinking and Refining the civil-military Relationship. September 2012

Plato. Titled “The Republic”. 380 BCE Book IV Section 419-420.

THE NATION, Friday, November 21, 2025 Newspaper. Nigeria’s Democracy and The Civilian-military Fault-Line

This article was earlier published on Medium 

https://medium.com/@ojopeace535/balancing-security-and-liberty-rethinking-civil-military-relations-1212abfeaeac