The Nigerian Army Ordinance Corps has pulled out 11 generals in Lagos on Friday.
Of the retired officers were eight Major-Generals and three Brigadier-Generals, who were said to have retired between 2013 and 2015.
The Major-Generals are Manhood Yerima, Abiodun Amao, Olayemi Abidoye, Boniface Azurunwa, Adekunle Martins, Christian Ugwu, Bode Ogini and Mashudy Adekanye.
The Brigadier-Generals are A.O Kachallah, Godfrey Nwafor and Gabriel Oladipo.
In a valedictory speech, a former Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Manhood Yerima, expressed appreciation for the gesture.
Yerima pledged that the retired officers would continue to keep the Nigerian flag high.
He advised the serving military personnel to continue to be loyal and be extra-vigilant.
He said, “Your loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria can best be given through vigilance and security consciousness.
“You must continue to demonstrate total commitment to your duty to the nation just as you have exemplified in your recent successes in the fight against terrorism in the North-East.
“The Nigerian people, especially the retirees are expecting a lot from you in the face of the current insurgency.
“Your secondary role is to assist the government in ensuring internal peace and your involvement in internal security duties demand all of you to be non-partisan.”
Read Also:
Yerima expressed the conviction that the Nigerian military would overcome the current security challenges in the country.
Other retirees also expressed their gratitude to the army and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented at the event by the General Officer Commanding, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Tamunomiebi Dibi, wished the retired officers well in their post service years.
The PUNCH had reported that the appointment of Buratai as the new Chief of Army Staff would lead to possible retirements in the Army because there is a difference of five years in hierarchy between the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, and his successor.
Apart from a few members of the Course 25 who are still in the service, there are also other officers from Courses 26, 27, 28 and 29. Buratai’s emergence may affect some of them.
Investigations revealed that about 30 Major-Generals who are either senior in hierarchy or who belonged to the same course as Buratai may retire from the service.
It is the tradition of the Army that a senior is not left in the service to salute his subordinate.
A source, who confided in one of our correspondents, said not all the Major-Generals in that hierarchy would go as some of them who are junior to the Chief of Defence Staff, who is of Course 26, could be moved to the Defence Headquarters and other tri-service institutions of the Armed Forces.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
