*It’s been God, grace, says former military chief
*IG reassures security of lives, property, meets 79 mopol commanders
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, who recently retired from the army after 35 years in service, has said the exploits of the Nigerian Army had put the country’s adversaries in disarray in all fronts.
This was as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Maj Gen Christopher Musa; the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Abiodun Lagbaja and Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, at the weekend, participated in the traditional pulling out ceremony for Yahaya.
Retiring members of the 38 and 39 Regular Courses of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) also participated in the colourful ceremony marked by parades, march past and special military rendition at the Army Headquarters Garrison Parade Ground, Mogadishu Military Cantonment, Abuja.
The Nigerian Army pull-out parade ceremony was in line with the military tradition of honouring retiring senior officers of the rank of general, who served without blemish.
Yahaya, in his remarks at the event, said the anti-illegal oil bunkering operations being conducted by troops in the Niger Delta region had continued to yield positive results with attendant increment in oil production, which returned the country to the top of the list of oil producing countries in Africa.
He charged Nigerian Army personnel not to relent in providing support to the new COAS to ensure his successful execution of the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigerian Army.
Yahaya, who was the special guest of honour and reviewing officer of the pull-out parade, expressed gratitude to God for a meritorious career that culminated in his command of the army.
Reminiscing on his career, Yahaya described his military sojourn as eventful with very tasking experience, and expressed appreciation to members of his family and colleagues for their support and steadfastness throughout his career.
“As the saying goes, everything that has a beginning, must have an end, and here we are today to celebrate the end of my career in the Nigerian Army. Today is no doubt a memorable day for me and my family.
“I thank Almighty God for his grace blessings mercies and bounties that saw me all through my career in the Nigerian Army up till today that I am leaving the service. I must say that it has only been God and his grace,” he said.
Going down memory lane, the former COAS said, “My military career commenced on 27th September, 1985, when I reported to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as a member of 37th Regular Course. From that time to date, it has been an eventful and rewarding experience.
“Like every military career, my service years was filled with sessions of excitement and gratitude, as well as pains of odious and demanding experiences. In all, I am grateful to God, my dear family and all of you for your support, steadfastness and prayers.
“As great Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘no man is good enough to govern another man without the other man’s consent or support’, there is no gainsaying that over the years of my career, I have received great support, tutelage, motivation, and multitude of prayers from my superiors, my family, friends and contemporaries across various work of life.
“All these paved the path for the great milestone and successes recorded throughout my tour of duty as a military officer, in the Nigerian Army. I must, therefore, thank God for my successful tour of my military service,” he said.
Yahaya also remembered fallen colleagues, who paid the supreme price in various theatres of operation across the country, adding, that the army made huge sacrifices in defending and ensuring lasting peace in the country.
He appreciated his predecessors for their dedication and service to the army, which he noted, significantly addressed security challenges during their tenure, stressing that they provided good platforms for others to build upon and significantly resulted in denying terrorists and insurgents freedom of action as well as restoration of peace and confidence to the affected communities.
Recalling his steady career progression and assigned command responsibilities that honed and shaped his leadership skill as a top military brass, he said, “In command, from being a platoon commander, to company commander, commanding officer, brigade commander, general officer commanding, theatre commander, amongst several others before assuming command as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army.”
While appreciating his predecessors, for their dedication and service to the Nigerian Army, Gen. Yahaya said it was on that effort and platform that he tried to build on which enabled him to contribute his own quota to the upliftment of the Nigerian Army.
“On assumption of command in Nigerian Army, I conceived and visualised an ideal army,which I sought to build. This was the outcome of my thorough assessment of the existing Nigeria Army’s capability, visa vis challenges and expectations for current as well as future operations.
“My interest was to build Nigerian Army that will have flexibility, capacity and capability to operate under all conditions, in collaboration with other services and agencies.
“It was on this premise, that I couched my vision for the Nigeria Army, which was, ‘to have a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria’. I am glad to say that we have made significant effort in achieving the effort,” he said.
Other at the event were former defence chief, Gen Alexander Ogomudia (rtd); former army chief, Lt Gen Ihejirika (rtd); members of the National Assembly, and captains of industry, among several other dignitaries.
IG Reassures Security of Lives, Property, Meets 79 Mopol Commanders
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has reassured the citizenry of his commitment to the general security of lives and property in Nigeria, pledging to improve upon the nation’s security in all ramifications.
A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IG at the weekend reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police under his watch to attain its primacy in the internal security architecture of Nigeria.
“In furtherance of his vision and painstaking drives to achieve his goals, the Acting Inspector-General of Police will be meeting with Commanders of the 79 Police Mobile Force Squadrons on Monday 26th June, 2023 at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to brainstorm with them on new operational strategies for improved training, deployments and enhanced tactical engagements for better public safety and general security for all and sundry,” it said.
The statement stated that, the IG “assures that the present leadership of the force has outlined an array of policing approaches that will be of immense importance to general public safety in Nigeria.”
