President Muhammadu
Buhari last night charged the Nigerian Army to ensure that the country remained
one and strong indivisible entity despite threats of secession in some quarters.
The President also received the captured flag of Boko Haram terrorists from the Sambisa forest from the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. -Gen. Lucky Irabor of the Nigerian Army. Buhari spoke at the 2016 Regimental Dinner organized by the Presidential Brigades of Guards in Abuja. The dinner was an annual event to mark the end of drilling year. It also provides the rare opportunity for officers to interact with their commanders. Speaking at the event, President Buhari who went down memory lane, remembered his ordeal which he said would have cost his life. But despite the development, the president said he had a good time, serving the army for 25 years.
He charged the military to ensure the unity of the country, saying it
was sacrosanct. He said: “I belive you are here because you want to be here and
you cannot complain. We will do our best to build the national institutions in
the country. “All these political madness in the country where in the north
east, the Niger Delta or in the East. “There are 250 ethnic groups, so keeping
Nigeria one is a task that must be done. So, even for personal reason you must
make sure this country stays one and remain strong.” Speaking on the state of
the economy, president Buhari recalled his position on the devaluation of the
Naira, hike of the petroleum products among others.
According to him, he
rejected similar advise by the IMF, World Bank to devalue the Naira as a
military Head of State. “I refused and gave my reasons and the next thing I
knew I was removed and detained for three and half years. “As a civilian
president I will do my best and I’m telling you all these because you are part
of the leadership of this great country and God willing we will remain great”,
he said. Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff. Gen.Tukur Buratai said
underscored the function of the brigade of guards, saying that apart from
providing security to the president, they also provided security for the FCT.
He also reminded the officers to need to maintain discipline at all times even
in 2017, promising not to give up in the north east until the insurgents were
completely wiped out. Buratai also promised to restore calm in other troubled
areas of the country, however assuring that the army would remain apolitical.
Handing over the flag to the president earlier, Irabor in whose command the
Boko Haram stronghold, “Camp Zero”, in Sambisa forest was eventually captured
disclosed that about 1,240 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were arrested
during a mop-up operation by troops inside the Sambisa forest. The highlight of
the event was the commissioning of the PMB Gymnasium at the Scorpion Mess in
W.U Bassey Cantonment By President Buhari. Dignitaries who graced the Dinner
were the representative of Senate President, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, Federal
Capital Territory Minister, the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence
Staff, Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, Presidential Aides,
among others.
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