Nigeria: Army Chiefs Bow Out

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Leadership (Abuja)

29 August 2008
Posted to the web 29 August 2008

Atang Izang

The long anxiously awaited handover of offices to the newly appointed Defence and Service Chiefs by their predecessors has finally been conducted, with a promise for the continuity of the giant strides initiated by the outgone officers.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence staff, Air Marshal (though already promoted to Air Chief Marshal) Paul Dike, extolled the virtues of General Owoye Andrew Azazi (rtd) for laying the solid foundation of transforming and taking the military to a new height.

"I thank President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for making it possible to occupy the office of Chief of Defence staff," he said, adding, "Gen. Azazi has been a thorough professional without blemishes despite the vicissitudes of life involved in the course of his career."

Dike also said Azazi has done well for laying a solid foundation he is coming to build on, and that nothing remains constant in life except change itself. He then urged him not to disengage himself from the military constituency and saluted him for his courage.

Meanwhile, Gen. Azazi has advised Air Marshal Paul Dike to make synergy as his watchword if he wants to succeed.

He admitted that he had no doubt about the capabilities of the new man taking over from him and urged the military to rally behind him as they did for him.

"I never thought I could become a four-star General when I joined the Army, let alone to occupy the office of the Chief of Defence staff," he said, adding, "I want to thank Nigeria for the privilege given to me to know the world. I have run my race at a supersonic speed, in one year I gained three promotions."

Similar exercises took place simultaneously at the three services, namely Army, Navy and Air Force.

In his acceptance remarks, the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-Gen Abdulrahaman Bello Dambazau, admitted that one of the greatest challenges for the Nigerian Army in the current dispensation is the need to maintain the time-tested military ethos and values.

He said the traditions of honour, morality, justice, sacrifice and inherited legacies that took considerable length of time to build are on the decline.

Sequel to this development, he said, several forms of attitudinal problems have manifested in units and elsewhere throughout the Nigerian Army.

"Over time, some officers and soldiers have become accustomed to illegal duties; care-free attitude towards welfare of troops; involvement in criminal activities; disobedience to standing orders; poor attendance of scheduled activities, neglect of regimentation, poor leadership, etc," he observed.

The Nigeria Air Force has described its own occasion as very historic because it was the first time the Chief of Air Staff would not be retiring after leaving office but has been elevated to the office of CDS.

The outgone Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Paul Dike, said he realized the task before him was so enormous when he took over, but as he stepped aside, he has the strong conviction that the NAF would grow from strength to strength as he formally handed over to his able successor.

Air Vice Marshall (promoted Air Marshall) Olusegun Pentirin acknowledged the enormous task before him and solicited the cooperation of his colleagues in order to move the force to greater heights.

He commended his predecessor for the excellent work he has started and expressed his wish to continue from there so that they together could achieve the desired goal with the Nigeria Air Force.

Similarly, the newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Isaiah Iko Yakubu, has acknowledged the numerous challenges being faced by the Nigerian Navy, especially in the Niger Delta region.

"We are faced with numerous challenges, ranging from stabilising the situation in the Niger Delta in conjunction with our sister services, to train, equip, sustain and emphasize welfare of our personnel," he noted.

All the immediate past Defence and Service Chiefs finally pulled out from the military as they go into retirement after reaching the mandatory 35 years of service.

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