President TInubu Urges Army To Remain Apolitical, Pro-democracy.

President Tinubu urges Army to remain apolitical, pro-democracy.

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

President Bola Tinubu has urged the Nigerian Army to remain completely non partisan and pro-democracy, even commended the military for their commitment and the role played in the just concluded Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo Governorship elections.

President Bola Tinubu who made the call while speaking at the COAS conference 2023 held at the Command Guest House, Maiduguri on Monday, said ” I commend the role you played during the just concluded Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo state govership elections. You displayed professionalism and commitment to democracy. Nigerian Army should continue to remain completely non partisan but prodemocracy “.

The COAS conference with a theme ” personnel motivation for effective operation in a joint environment ” provide an avenue for the officers of the Nigerian Amy to review their operations and proffer solutions”.

The president while commending the team work exhibit by the military and other security agencies in the fight against insurgency, banditry and kidnaping but however, frown at the recent misunderstanding between the Army and the police in Adamawa.

” What happened in Adamawa is unacceptable, you have many points to ventilate your anger, the way you demonstrated in Adamawa is unacceptable this is final message”, President Tinubu said.

Tinubu urged the participants of the COAS conference to apply philosophy in addressing the security challenges facing the nation, stressing that the military has not only the ability to secure the nation but make Nigeria great..

Speaking on the recent Kaduna village bombing, the president said ” let me say something about the traigic incident that occured iin Kaduna. These are the people we were entrusted with their security.I am deeply touched , it is severely painful to see harm befall on those we swore to protect them, this incident must be investigated. You must give ourselves a victory over terrorism, banditry it is the best gift. Yes, compensation we will do but it didn’t bring back the lives, we must have victory, victory is the best gift”.

He assured the military of the presidency support to end Boko Haram insurgency and other crimes

Also speaking, the Minister of Defense, Badaru Abubakar assured that with the team if the service Chiefs and the moral of the troops, very soon banditry kidnaping and Insurgency will end.

” The COAS annual conference is an avenue to access the preparedness and readiness of the troops to address the security challenges facing the nation. The outcome of this conference will proffer solution to the security challenges, as it provide opportunity to review our operations and exercises and strategies to tackle the challenges”, the Minister added .

He comesorated with the families of the troops that paid the supreme prize in restoring peace to the nation and the wounded troops for their sacrifices.

In his remarks, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State commended the Nigerian Army for selecting Maiduguri for the hosting of the 2023 COAS conference, stressing that is a great honour for the state to host the conference at the time insurgency is gradually coming to an end and during time of the restoration effort of the Borno State government.

Zulum said the kinetic approach employed by the Nigerian military has forced the insurgents to surrender in their mass and appealed to the president to consider the reconstruction of road networks in the state to support the restoration effort of the government.

In his welcome address, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja said the conference provide an opportunity to the Nigerian Army to review the sucesses and challenges of its operations and exercises across the nation and come out with strategies to enhenced the operations.

He assured that the Nigerian Army remains Committed to sustaining democracy in Nigeria and across the shores of the Nation.

Meanwhile, as part of the activities of the conference the National President of the Nigerian Army Officer Wives Association (NAOWA) Mrs Mariya Lagbaja has performed a ground breaking ceremony of the NAOWA skills Acquisition and training centre at the NAOWA secretariat Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri.

The NAOWA National President also commissioned a motorised 5000 litres capacity borehole to provide potable water to 60 families within the barracks.

Mrs Lagbaja is also expected to present certificates and starter packs to the widows of troops that paid the supreme prize in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast