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 challengesplaguing the
country were pointers that the nation was at the brink of break up
saying Nigeria cannot break up and thatthe 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, havingbeen at the forefront of all
effortsto 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'thave 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
alreadytrained, 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 ofthis 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 favourablywith 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 aplatform 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.
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