BY EDMOND ODOK – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says Nigerians expect results and not excuses from the new Service Chiefs in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities nationwide .
According to the President, technology and other measures must be deployed where necessary to defeat criminals and achieve results because the country is in a hurry to celebrate peace and stability on all fronts
President Tinubu, who gave the marching order on Thursday at the Presidential Villa after decorating the Service Chiefs with their new ranks, said, “We cannot allow the crisis that began in 2009 to persist any longer. I charge you, as the heads of our nation’s armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal.
“Nigerians expect results, not excuses. I also urge you to be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace. Let us deploy technology where necessary,”
Maintaining that the fight against insecurity must have the Service Chiefs smashing new armed groups he described as new snakes in troublesome areas of the North-Central, North-West, and some parts of the South, President Tinubu further said: “We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”
The President, who acknowledged the urgent need to stop emerging criminal gangs in some parts of the country, also said, “Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South.”
He assured the Armed Forces of the Federal Government’s readiness to support their efforts, noting that the safety and security of Nigerians remain paramount for national development.
While commending the courage and commitment of the Military and their families in making sacrifices to the nation, President Tinubu said, “Over the years, our military has remained steadfast in defending our nation’s territorial integrity, with many soldiers paying the supreme price for their service. Their sacrifices will not be in vain.
“We have restored peace to many areas previously under siege, rescued countless kidnapped citizens, and significantly diminished the capacity of terror groups.
“There were times when terrorists and armed marauders held significant portions of our land; this is no longer the case.”
Further charging the Service Chiefs to ensure synergy and provide exemplary leadership in all their operations, he stated thus, “I advise you to work together as a team. Compare notes, exchange information effectively, and follow up proactively to ensure a seamless process.
“Work with other security agencies and defeat this enemy once and for all. We need to clean them up, clear them out. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, who spoke on behalf of the Service Chiefs, thanked the President for finding them worthy of the appointments.
He said the Military needs maximum support from Nigerians in the campaign to safeguard the nation’s territorial integrity and rid the country of terrorism, banditry, and other criminal activities.
Assuring the President of their determination to keep the country safe, General Oluyede said, “Security should be our business, but without the support of Nigerians, we can hardly achieve anything. I want to encourage Nigerians of all ethnicities to support us, and ultimately, we will make Nigeria a safer place. That’s our promise to you.”
The Service Chiefs, promoted and decorated with new ranks, are the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Lieutenant General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye; Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.
Dignitaries at the event, which took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, included Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, the Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senate Appropriation Committee Chairman, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola.
Others were Governors of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also on hand to witness the ceremony were Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Esther Didi Walson-Jack; Chairmen of Defence Committees in the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and Babajimi Benson; Minister of Finance snd Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris; Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
