Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 07, 2004.
Obasanjo charges military to protect
democracy
By Godwin Egbara,
Special
Correspondent, Bauchi
In
the face of mounting opposition to his reform programmes, President Olusegun
Obasanjo has charged the military to preserve and protect the nation’s
democracy, saying it was the greatest contribution any sector could make to
national development.
The
president gave the charge at a celebration to mark 141 years of the Nigerian
Army in Bauchi.
Represented by the Vice- President Atiku
Abubakar, Obasanjo said the entire concept of national development was
predicated on the existence of peace and security.
He
noted that the defence of the nation against external aggression and internal
insurrection was a major military role, adding that his administration has
provided the right atmosphere for the enhancement of training as manifested in
the establishment of the Department of Army Standard and Evaluation and the
Army Training Centre in Kontagora.
He
said the training would go a long way in revolutionalising military training
system in line with modern trends and the demand of modern warfare.
The
president added that emphasis should be on joint training of all arms and
services in the Nigerian Army.
Given
the rapid changes within the global military environment, Obasanjo said
training must also be to develop the human potentials of officers and soldiers
and sustain their mental development.
This
intellectual exercise, he said, should be sustained and encouraged, pointing
out that it was capable of boosting their corporate image and indeed the image
of the nation.
Obasanjo said the Nigerian Army has in
its 141 years of existence, received numerous accolades from the international
community for its successful peace keeping mission.
Noting that the success was
an immense pride to the nation, the president said such recognition should
serve as a catalyst to others in achieving a better standard.
He commended the effort of
members of the Nigerian Army for the unflinching support for the
nurturing
of democracy, saying the journey has not been smooth as it was characterised
with ethnic and religious intolerance, unprecedented high level of armed
conflict.
As part of the celebration,
officers and men who distinguished themselves received award. Among them were
Col. Bashir Shittu, Col. Patrick Reis, Col.Ibrahim Babangida, WOI Sunday Okoh
and Staff Sergeant Umoh Bassey
