From Left: Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubike Ihejirika; Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Isah, and Former Goc, 82 Div, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye, at the Lecture on the Experience of Military Officers, to Mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration in Jaji, Kaduna State on Tuesday.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika has laughed off insinuations from certain quarters and religious groups in the country, that current terrorism and security challenges plaguing the country were pointers that the nation was at the brink of break up saying Nigeria cannot break up and that the Nigerian army would continue to fight to keep it together.
The COAS who made the disclosure during a parley he held with retired officers and Re-union of Army Infantry Corps officers as part of activities marking the 2012 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADACEL), pointed out that the army, having been at the forefront of all efforts to keep the country together since independence, would ensure that the sacrifice of its officers and soldiers in keeping the nation one did not go in vain.
His words, “When people talk about breakup, have they forgotten so soon that they have an army that paid dearly to keep the country together? Let me remind them the army is still ready to pay the supreme sacrifice to continue to keep this country as one united entity”.
“So any talk about Nigeria breaking up should be forgotten because, the Nigeria army will not agree to that. In any case, I see it (breaking up) as a loose talk from those people who don’t have the interest of this country at heart”.
Towards matching words with action, the Army Chief said in response to present and future challenges , the army is mapping out strategies to establish additional units in line with its new Order of Battle (ORBAT 2010”.
Some of the new Army units in the pipeline are; the Special Forces Brigade beginning with, the 3rd Battalion for Guards Brigade to be located in Kuje, Resuscitation of the Army Aviation Wing, with the Army presently boosting of 40 Helicopter Pilots in its fold already trained, in addition to other technicians that were trained at Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna and the Special Dogs unit to tackle bombings and other terrorism challenges at divisional levels.
While commending the retired officers who have been striving within their meager means to keep the retired army, navy and air force association going, Ihejirika said, “I have great expectations that the outcome of this discussion would yield fruitful results, I therefore look forward to the buildup of the benefits of the gathering”.
Earlier, Maj-Gen Mohammed Isah, Commander Army infantry Corp said the Corp has officers and men that can compete favourably with any men in the world.
Isah said the reunion would afford all officers in the Corp both serving and retired to reunite and discuss, share experiences and learn from one another.
He said the forum had provided a platform where the young serving officers would tap from the vast of experience and knowledge of senior officers to move the Corp to a higher level.
Speaking on the current security challenges, Rtd. General John shagaya said that the retired officers hold this country responsibility as regard to security information out of the 774 local governments, there is no where we don’t have retired army officers.
Also speaking, Retired General Emmanuel Abisoye warned that no country ever wins Urban Guerrilla Warfare because you don’t know who is amongst them.
He said that the government should call them (Boko Haram) and find out their problem, dialogue with them and sort it out so that soldiers should be less visible on the streets as it is now.
