New Telegraph

FG warns military against ‘politicking’

The Minister of Defence, Maj- Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), has warned officers and men of the Armed Forces (AFN) against engaging in conducts that are at variance with their constitutional mandate.

 

While charging the military to shun all forms of “politicking” in the discharge of  its responsibilities, the minister noted that the AFN has “been the unifying factor of our nation” since independence.

 

The retired two-star General gave the charge on Monday, at the opening of the 2021 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference in Abuja.

 

His words: “It is pertinent to emphasise here on the need for the Armed Forces to remain professional in carrying out its constitutional roles. Remember that this was the oath you swore on joining the military.

 

“Accordingly, you all must shun every form of politicking in the conduct of your responsibilities and in the aid to civil authorities. Let me boldly state that the military has been the unifying factor of our nation since our independence, and it must continue to be apolitical and non-tribal, as a professional force.”

 

The minister also underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration and synergy, especially in ongoing military operations.

 

“One major concern of  the Ministry of Defence is the drive to achieve joint-ness and unity of effort amongst the three Services especially in the conduct of various ongoing operations within the country.

 

“I must commend the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs for putting in place measures to achieve this. However, more synergy  is still required to ensure that all operations on the ground reflect that joint-ness in all ramifications for greater successes.”

 

Earlier, the COAS, Lt- General Faruk Yahaya, assured that the Service was “ever ready at all times to defend our democracy and the territorial integrity of our nation”, adding that: “In fulfilment of this resolve, the Nigerian Army’s performance in the conduct of operations has been greatly sustained and improved.

 

“It is in line with the President’s directive and my intent to rebuild the Nigerian Army into a more formidable force that I conceived the vision of having a professional Nigerian Army Ready to Accomplish Assigned Missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.

 

“The Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference holding at this time of the year makes it paramount that the performance of the Nigerian Army in the preceding quarters be appraised.

 

This will afford the leadership of the Nigerian Army the opportunity to chart the way forward for better performance in the discharge of our constitutional roles in the Year 2022.”

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