By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has charged the Nigerian Army to remain apolitical, neutral and subordinate in accordance with the constitutional professional ethics of the Military mandate.
Lagbaja said democracy in this modern era cannot be truncated as it remains an old fashion.
The COAS statement is coming days after the Military coup which occurred on July 26 in Niger Republic.
Speaking while addressing Officer Cadets at the Passing Out Parade and Commissioning cum Oath Taking Ceremony for Executive Commission Course 1/2023, held at the Major Bulama Biu Parade Ground, Military Cantonment, Jaji, Kaduna State, Lagbaja explained to the Army that the only thing better than democracy for Nigeria in this modern era, is more democracy.
According to him: “All officers and men of the Nigerian Army must be reminded that subordination of the military to constituted authority remains the most fashionable means of promoting military professionalism.
“The desire of every Nigerian is a flourishing, uninterrupted constitutional democratic governance that promotes national values and the interest of every well-meaning Nigerian, irrespective of ethnic or religious affiliation.
“I therefore charge all Nigerian Army personnel to be proud champions of our flourishing democracy and remain apolitical in discharging their constitutional duties”.
He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the security of lives and property across the country, stressing that the Army is working assiduously to protect the territorial integrity of the nation and support relevant security agencies in ensuring the security of lives and properties within the country.
He however, conferred Presidential Commission on the Passing out Cadets, to the rank of Lieutenant, after which the Oath of Allegiance was administered to them at the Lieutenant General Ihejirika Auditorium, a statement from the Director Army Public Relations, Brig. -Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said.
He confirmed that the 239 Passing out Cadets comprising 12 female and 228 male Cadets were already in service as soldiers and were drawn from various Corps of the NA, before they were selected for Executive Commissioning, after three months of intensive military training, beginning from 1st May to 5 August 2023.
The Commandant Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Major General Oluyemi Olatoye, who supervised the training of the Cadets, noted that they have been imbued with requisite skills to function as officers, Nwachukwu said in the statement.
