Sultan Cautions Army Against Tribalism, Religious Division

The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has counseled the Nigerian Army not to allow tribalism or religious division to creep into its affairs, saying such a negative tendencies could divide the army and the country at large.

The Sultan spoke Wednesday in Bauchi at the commissioning of the new headquarters of Nigerian Army Armoured Corps (NAAC) Complex and the reunion of the armoured corps celebration held at Obienu Barracks where he commended the initiative and execution of the legacy project.

The respected monarch told the celebrants, “You are in the military now and so many things have been geared towards where you come from, who is a Muslim, who is a Christian, who is Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba in the country.

‘We never knew these things so many years ago. Please, don’t allow this thing to trip into the army for that would be the one thing that will divide the army and even the country.”

He therefore appealed for synergy between the armoured corps and the Nigerian Army, as well as with other sister security agencies for optimum performance with a view to bring an end to the insecurity bedeviling parts of the country for more than a decade.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja had earlier pledged full support of the Armoured Corps to reactivate its facilities for improved operational efficiency to effectively safeguard the territorial integrity of the country.

Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja noted with delight that the armoured corps and its team have become a reference point in construction in the Nigerian Army as they completed the building of the new headquarters in record time.

“I congratulate you and your men for writing your names in gold for generations to come. Victory is the experience, and as the popular saying goes, money cannot buy experience in the market.

“By virtue of the armoured reunion, the Nigerian Armoured Corps has continued to foster rich history, culture and experience to the younger generation. This pioneer armoured reunion as earlier mentioned by the Commander Armoured Corps was conceived and initiated in 2014,” Lagbaja said.

He recalled that the corps still lives to its expectation of bringing together both serving and the retired seasoned armoured officers to deliberate arms fire solutions on contemporary issues affecting the corps and the larger Nigerian Army.

The Army Chief also expressed gratitude to Governor Bala Mohammed for his administration’s outstanding support to the Armoured Corps and other army formations in Bauchi state, and promised to remain focused in overcoming security challenges.