“Please pass my message to your families that we are very mindful of their patience and anxiety whenever you are in the field.”
These were the comforting words from President Muhammadu Buhari when he spoke simultaneously to Nigeria troops in Sambisa Forest, United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL) and the Air Force Base in Yola via video-conferencing.
He spoke shortly after performed the Wreath Laying Ceremony for the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day today, Sunday, at the National Arcade in Abuja. The President was accompanied by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police.
President Buhari spoke to the Commanders in the three locations, namely: Major General Victor Ezugwu, Acting GOC, 7 Division, Nigerian Army (Sambisa Forest); Major General Salihu Uba, Force Commander for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and Air Commodore Charles Owoh, Air Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Air Force Base Yola.
To the commander at Sambisa Forest, the President said: good morning officers and men of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army. You have done Nigeria a great pride. Your success was received spontaneously by all Nigerians. I congratulate you and thank you very much for the honour done to the country and to us. Well done! I wish you and your families well and I hope that you are in touch with your families. I wish you more success and please maintain the standard of discipline and efficiency. Thank you very much indeed.
To the commander at the UNMIL, President Buhari said: “good morning General [Salihu Uba, Force Commander for the United Nations Mission in Liberia]. We thank God and we thank technology. I can see you and I can hear you. I am impressed with the turnout of your men and I thank you for keeping the flag flying on the performance of Nigerian military in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. God willing as you briefed us, in 2018, the last contingent of Nigeria troops in Liberia will come back. I sincerely wish them a successful operation and I wish the General the best of luck.
And to the Air Force Base commander in Yola, Buhari said: “that was a good presentation. I get regular briefing from your Chief of Air Staff. Your performance speaks for itself and you have raised the morale of your colleagues in the military especially the army. With your hi-tech performance and platforms, we have been able to restore the sanity and the territorial integrity of Nigeria; I congratulate you. For the officers and men, you know you cannot be over-trained. With your hi-tech outfit, training has to be continuous and I am very pleased with the initiative that you have taken in maintenance of equipment. It is very encouraging and a boost to our morale here. I congratulate you. Thank you very much indeed.” [myad]
