Osinbajo To Military: Don’t Just Wear Uniform, Defend Nigeria With Your Lives

As 187 new officers were commissioned into the Nigerian Air
Force on Wednesday, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has
warned military officers and men that, beyond taking pride in their
uniform and weapons, they must defend Nigeria with their lives.

He said, the military career which is to defend the territorial
integrity of the country, is the most civic service and beyond just
earning salary and getting a chance to wear a coveted uniform, but
putting their lives on the line for the safety and welfare of
millions Nigerians.

Professor Osinbajo Stated this while he served at the Reviewing
Officer at the Passing Out Parade of the Direct Short Service
Course 28 of 2019, held at the Nigerian Air Force Base in
Kaduna.

He, however, told the new military officers that, Nigeria was
still grappling with an insurgency in the Northeast, and the
challenges of kidnapping and armed banditry in other parts of the
country. Adding that, in weeks and months ahead, they will be
extremely busy, fulfilling their responsibilities to the military
and the nation.

According to the Vice President, “As you already know, this
profession you have chosen requires absolute discipline, loyalty
and hard work. It is much more than just securing a job, or earning
a salary; and more than just getting the chance to wear a coveted
uniform or wield coveted weapons. This is the ultimate form of
civic service to defend the territorial integrity of your country
and to put your life on the line for the safety and welfare of
millions of your countrymen and women. There is no nobler
occupation than this one you have chosen.

“You are passing out at a time when our nation is grappling with
an insurgency in the Northeast, and the challenges of kidnapping
and armed banditry in other parts of the country. You will,
therefore, have come to terms with the fact that the days and weeks
and months ahead of you will be extremely busy, as you fulfil your
responsibilities to the military and the nation.

“While the armed forces have effectively contained the
territorial ambitions of the Boko Haram terrorists by substantially
degrading their capacity to attack and wreak havoc – they remain
intent on shedding blood and sowing fear. There is also the threat
of the Islamic State of West Africa Province ISWAP in the Lake Chad
Islands and part of Southern Borno.

“Also, more often these days these insurgents are focusing on
soft targets, opportunistic attacks on isolated military units, as
well as on increasingly sophisticated propaganda aimed at making
them out to be more organized and lethal than they really are.

“This ever-increasing reliance on propaganda is a reminder that
this is not only a ‘battleground’ war; it is just as much an
information-and-narrative war. Winning hearts and minds has always
been important in military warfare; it is even more so in a century
defined by information and communication technologies.

“As 21st-century military officers, how you project your
strength and confidence to your enemies and the world, especially
using social and digital media tools, is as important as the
sophistication of the conventional arms and ammunition that you
wield.

“But to do so effectively also means that you must take the time
and trouble to fully understand the nature of the threats that
confront us, the narratives and philosophies that underlie those
threats”.

He informed that the President in collaboration with State
governors has been reviewing the security architecture of the
country, which he said involved not just the armed forces but in
particular the Police who have recently announced their community
policing strategy.

“This initiative involves the recruitment and training of
policemen in each local government and ensuring that such new
policemen remain in their local governments working with local and
traditional authorities to maintain peace and security.

“As the President has said, Security is a twenty-four hour
occupation involving continuous investments in strategy and
innovation. We will continue to take all necessary measures to
tackle all forms of criminality across the country and to safeguard
lives and property of all Nigerians.

“The Nigerian Air Force will, as part of the Armed Forces,
continued to be at the forefront of our national security
interventions. I note in particular the extremely successful
digitally accurate bombings of terrorist hideouts In April the
destruction of Boko Haram mechanic workshop in Borno

“In May, the airstrikes on Tumbun Hamma on the fringes of Lake
Chad, inflicting heavy casualties on ISWAP forces under Air Task
Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE In June airstrikes on Sambisa Forest
further eliminating insurgents

“It is particularly commendable that you are adopting measures
to ensure that the resources available to you are used judiciously;
in a manner that delivers optimal results and maximum value for
money.

“This nation is great and can only become greater. We are
Africa’s largest economy by GDP – states of Nigeria have larger
economies than many African States. We have become the last
frontier for major economic growth.

“We are the world’s largest growers of Cassava and yams, we are
top 5 in the world in sorghum, millet, we are approaching
self-sufficiency in paddy rice production. Our potential in
Technology and entertainment has been attracting huge
attention.

“First is the market, at 174 million GSM phones we are top ten
telephone users in the world, and we have the highest percentage of
people who use internet on their phones in the world, we are also
number 2 in mobile internet banking in the world, 17 million
Nigerians are on Facebook.

“Microsoft has announced that it will establish a 100 million
dollar African Develop Centre in Nigeria. We are already building
our own drones. But not only are we building drones, we are also
making spare parts for our aircrafts. We are also manufacturing
armoured personnel carriers and all sorts of different military
platforms.

“All of these are things that Nigerians are doing in this
country. Just last week, we saw, at the Army Day, sophisticated
mine sweepers that are manufactured in this country. In a few short
years, this country will be, by far, the greatest military force in
Africa and certainly the most developed economy in Africa.

“All of these have been built on the sacrifices of many in blood
and sweat, especially men and women of the armed forces. What will
undermine our efforts now and in the future is disunity. All of
those who are preaching narratives of divisions along ethnic and
religious lines. We must resist all who try to destroy our present
gains and in particular our future.

“The future of our country is bright, all we need to do is to
keep focus not to allow any to preach any division amongst us. If
we remain stable and united, everything that we desire for our
great country will be ours.” He said.

He assured that the Federal Government, will continue to give
priority attention to the operational requirements and the welfare
of the personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The Presidential Commissioning in the Nigerian Air Force was
performed by the Vice President as reviewing officer on behalf of
the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

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President Buhari Seeks Approval of 15 Special
Advisers

President seek approval for appointment of Special Advisers
President Mohammadu Buhari today submitted to the Senate request
for the appointment of Special Advisers.

Citing section 151 of the constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria 1999 as amended which confers on him the power to
appoint Special Advisers to assist him in the performance of his
functions, the President requested the kind consideration of the
distinguished Senators to appoint 15 Special Advisers.

The request is expected to be read tomorrow at plenary.

Also today at plenary, the Senate President, Senator Ahmad
Lawan, hinted at the possibility of the President sending his
ministerial list to the Senate this week. He says the executive arm
of government was working round the clock towards ensuring that the
Senate gets the ministerial list before the end of the week.

Charles Akpan
Deputy Director
The Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on National
Assembly Matters