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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Obasanjo warns armed forces against politics
PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo, at the weekend, warned members of the Armed Forces against dabbling into politics.
He urged them to continue to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation and contribute towards the sustenance of democracy.
President Obasanjo who was in United States (U.S.) to attend the United Nations (UN) sessions flew into Kaduna yesterday, as part of his first assignment in the country to attend the 40th anniversary and passing out ceremony of 129 cadet officers of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
He praised the members of the Armed Forces for their roles in stabilising democracy since its advent in 1999. He added: "You have so far demonstrated your commitment to this sacred responsibility and you must continue to dutifully work towards the sustenance of our democratic experiment. This is the way to retain and enhance the credibility, dignity and strength of the Armed Forces."
"Let me reiterate to the passing out Cadets and all the serving personnel that there can be no greater honour to a professional soldier, sailor or airman than loyalty and patriotic services to the nation consistent with the roles assigned to you in the constitution.
He added: "This means you must never dabble into roles for which you have neither training nor constitutional rights and legitimacy."
He urged the military to avail themselves of the growing trends in the world and ensure that they are adequately equipped to develop the sector.
Said Obasanjo: "We are all witnesses to the fact that we live in a dynamic world, technology has not only shrunk ancient barriers of distance, language and culture, the world is increasingly sharing common ideas of politics and socio-economic philosophy driven by market forces."
"You must, therefore continue to improve your knowledge of the service, the country, the continent and the world. You must improve on your level of computer literacy and expand your world-view to accommodate changing discourses, perspectives and issues that shape an increasingly complex and globalised world.
Besides, Obasanjo urged the authorities of NDA to see the 40th anniversary of the military institution as a time of rededication to the cause of the nation and as a time of reflection and forward looking.
He stressed: "I hope the NDA would take its cue from the National Defence and Security Policy."
"The Academy should also take a hard look at its mission, vision and function and how to achieve them. What I can assure you of is that government will provide the support and resources for the achievement of the new policy orientation. And the time has come for the NDA to move to its permanent site. It is my hope that by next year, the passing out parade will take place at the site."
Advising the 129 cadets who were commissioned as new officers of the Armed Forces, President Obasanjo urged them to assume full military duties in their respective units of posting and remain worthy Ambassadors of NDA.
He added: "You are passing out at a time of great challenges to our nation and Africa as a whole. I am happy to note that during the course of training, you interacted with cadets from sister African countries. This will no doubt enhance the well-known spirit of brotherliness, Pan-Africanism and International Co-operation that the African Union (AU) is working hard to engender."
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