Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Lucky Irabor has warned politicians not to play politics with the military which enjoys unity and bond not found in any other sector.
Irabor, speaking at a reception organised by the Defence Headquarters shortly after his pulling out parade from service after 37 years and 29 months as CDS said “the friendship and unity that exists within the armed forces you can’t find it anywhere and that is why you can’t play politics with the military because from the 774 LGA of this country everyone is represented”.
He said contrary to believes, no military personnel take any special injection but for the training and indoctrination which comes from the regimentation.
He said “The military is a family for those who may not know. It is a family. I have answered so many questions on we being given an injection. What is that injection? There is no injection. The injection is training and discipline. They also said we operate like a cult, the process alone, there is nothing wrong if I say we are in a cult but it is a good cult. In the training establishment when I was a cadet, we spent three years but two years later it became a five-year programme, when it was three years, the admission was every six months and when it became one year, the admission became every year.
“For you to finish a three-year program means that you will have five sets of your senior and five sets of your junior. The bonding that comes with it, you can’t find it in any other place and that is why you think is cult. The values and traditions are transmitted from one generation to the other. When you get to the field you see yourself as brothers. I want to use this opportunity to make an appeal to our friends and the citizens, the investment in member of the armed forces is such that other sectors need to take a cue from. There is no commander that goes to war with those he claims are his kinsmen”.
Irabor who said he was happy handing over the task of defending the nation to the new CDS said he was glad to leave a safer and better country.
He also cautioned against destructive criticism but called on Nigerians to constructively criticise if there is need.
He also called on his successor to follow up with the President to implement his policies for the greater good of the armed forces of Nigeria.
“My last interaction with the president made some promises to the military. Let me urge you to follow up on the promises and those promises would be of greater good for the armed forces and the nation”.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff Major General Christopher Musa said Irabor left a tall task and pledged not to disappoint.
Commending the former CDS, Musa commended Irabor and past service chiefs for working in synergy for a common purpose. He vowed to continue to promote synergy and work collectively to attain peace and stability.
“We will not let you down. We will continue from where you have stop. When I sleep I ask can we really meet some of the things you have achieved? I want to assure you that we will continue from where you have stopped, we complete all ongoing projects. We will continue the synergy you have started. We will always come to you because of the experience you have. I will not allow your experience to waste. We’ll work together with the citizens of Nigeria. We’ll not relent until there is total peace in Nigeria”.
Irabor earlier said he was leaving the Armed Forces of Nigeria bigger, stronger and more capable to contain national security threats.
In his valedictory speech at the Pulling-out Parade after 37 years and 29 months as the 17th Chief of Defence Staff.
“I feel greatly honoured today, to address this August gathering on my retirement and ceremonial pull out from the Armed Forces of Nigeria after 37 years of unblemished service to our dear nation and having served as the Chief of Defence Staff in the past 29 months.
“I make bold to say that I’m leaving the armed forces of Nigeria today, bigger, stronger and more capable to deliver on its constitutional mandate and national security functions” he said.
The former Defence Chief said national security for a diverse country like Nigeria was not easy but not impossible.
“National security for a large and diverse country like Nigeria is not an easy task but it is also not an impossible one” he said.
He noted that the change of baton in the Armed Forces following the assumption of office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signifies the start of routine process of regenerating the Armed Forces of Nigeria for improved service delivery.
“I seize this opportunity to congratulate the President for the profound leadership and direction thus far, as he grapples with the challenges of nation building and national security.
“Mr President, no doubt, the debt we owe to the men and women who have served in the armed forces is one that we will never be able to repay adequately.
They sacrifice so much of themselves to defend the nation and they ask for so little in return”.
He prayed that “the coming years will be blessed with peace and prosperity for all of us”.
“In 2021, the security situation of the nation was admittedly in a state of dynamic flux, efforts made by the federal government of Nigeria using the AFN in collaboration with the NPF, other security agencies and critical stakeholders were in different stages of gestation, we were encouraged to pursue these measures in addition to other initiatives to reinvigorate the national security architecture to deliver critical national security functions.
“In this regard, I acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our courageous men and women in uniform, my deepest gratitude to the brave officers, soldiers, ratings, air men and airwomen who demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication, your services and courage in the line of duty are unparalleled.
I know that you do this because of the love for country, I’m profoundly proud of you all”.
He said the services under his watch have “singly and collectively expanded strategic capacities, operational reach and tactical competences, received great impetus and support from the federal government of Nigeria, strategic partners, state governments and NGOs in terms of gross expansion of military strength, platform acquisition, expansions of equipment holdings, provisions of funding, material, and logistics as well as improvement of critical skills and aptitude of the personnel”.
“I wish to on behalf of the entire officers ,men and women of the Armed forces express our deep appreciation first and foremost to the immediate past President and the current President Commander in Chief of the Armed forces, and our collective gratitude also goes to our strategic partners, the leadership and members of the National Assembly, State governors, the National Security Adviser, the honourable minister of defence, the honourable minister of finance, budget and national planning and other ministers of the federal republic, International and local NGOs, the media and the general public for the invaluable support.
“Due largely to the input from these sources, and the improved institutional capacities, the armed forces recorded goal attainment in core military roles and military aid to civil power”.
He added “in more specific terms we have significantly curtailed the threats of terrorism, insurgency, piracy, sea robberies, vandalism of critical national assets and kidnappings, and the military aid to civil authority role.
“We successfully work in conjunction with other security agencies and stakeholders to deliver a physical security environment that is amenable for Law and Order, critical democratic processes as well as human security and national development.
“The Armed Force is tough delivering on its constitutional mandate. As a defender of the Nigerian states, territories and people in addition to providing a bulwark for unbroken democratic evolution.
“In other words, the Armed Force has been a foremost national institution and as sovereign describes the stability of the nation”.
Irabor said despite the current challenges, he was proud of the patrol dizzying dedication, hard work and sacrifices of the men and women of the armed forces which is propelled by love for country.
“Throughout my years of service, I have had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated, bravest, courageous and selfless men and women I have ever known. Your unshakable commitment to our nation, our values and our mission has been a constant source of inspiration. The bonds we have forged in the face of adversity, unbreakable and I’m truly grateful to have had the opportunity to have served with each and every one of you.
“Without doubt, the nation should be proud of its military, to whom too many security concerns seem to now be consigned. I therefore state with a sense of responsibility but in as a nation, we should avoid the deliberate or inadvertent inclination to denigrate the contributions of the armed forces to national security, unity and stability.
“To do so, would be to effectively undermine the Nigerian state”.
“As I transition into the next phase of my life, I carry with me a deep sense of pride and gratitude for the opportunity to have served our great nation.
“Our military stands as a beacon of hope, strength and resilience in an increasingly complex world and I’m honored to have played a part in that all levels of the armed forces of Nigeria”.
“As I retired from the service of the nation, I humbly register my praise and worship of the Almighty God for His divine guidance”.
Not Willing To Retire, DHQ Gives Senior Officers Monday To Exit Service
The Defence Headquarters has ordered senior military officers with seniority on commission above that of the current service chiefs to retire latest July 3,2023.
This is following reports that some senior officers who are not comfortable with the appointment of Service Chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are refusing to retire to give room for command and control.
President Tinubu had on 19 June,2023 retired service chiefs who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and replaced them with new ones.
A letter spotted by leadership but not confirmed asked the senior military officers to put in papers for retirement latest July 3,2023.
The letter dated 26 June 2023 signed by Major General Y. Yahaya onbehalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Christopher Musa read “It would be recalled that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently appointed new CDS and Service Chiefs on 19 Jun 23.
“In order to preserve and uphold the tenets of the military profession which values hierarchy and service discipline, it is important that all officers whose officer cadet courses run seniority above that of the current Service Chiefs disengage from the Service.
“Consequently, I am directed to respectfully request Services to direct all officers with seniority on commission above that of NDA Regular Course 39 to submit their applications for voluntary retirement from Service with immediate effect. I am to add that affected officers are to submit their applications to their respective Service Headquarters not later than Mon 3 Jul 23.”
The Acting director Defence Information Brig. Gen Tukur Gusau did not respond to inquiries however, the letter confirms LEADERSHIP earlier report that members of courses 37,38 and some members of course 39 will have to leave the service for command and control following the appointment of new service chiefs.
LEADERSHIP had reported that dozens of military generals will be forced out of the service, a development many received with mix feelings.
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