Ihejirika blames porous borders for insurgency
The immediate past Chief of Army
Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, has blamed Nigeria’s porous borders for the
insurgency in the North-East.
Ihejirika said this during his
Valedictory Speech at a parade in his honour to mark his exit from the Nigerian
Army.
“We must realise that the world is
passing through an increasingly volatile and uncertain 21st century and our
situation in Nigeria had been made complex by regional and transnational
threat.
“This is further accelerated by
information technology,desertification, international migration across the
borders, and competition for scarce resources, weapon proliferation and several
unresolved ethno-religious conflicts.
“In the last few years, we have had
to deploy the army extensively at home and abroad along with other services.
“And I am proud to be part of our
nation’s quest for a more peaceful world through many interactions using
different platforms.”
According to him, the military has
tried to strengthen critical partnership both local and international.
The former army chief said that
menace of terrorism and insurgency could be resolved quickly if the nation
appreciated the sacrifice made by the services irrespective of political and
religious affiliation.
“I urge the Army and other service
to remain cohesive and loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan no matter the distraction.
“This is key to the restoration of
peace in volatile areas.
“Let me express my gratitude and
deep appreciation to the president for giving me opportunity to serve.‘’
In his remarks, Gov. Theodore Oji of
Abia, described Ihejirika as a humble man, a good soldier and a man determined
to change things.
He said the former army chief
had done very well, adding that the army played a very major role in
restoring peace
and security to Abia State.
“This is the reason all Abians came
to felicitate with him because he showed determination, vigour and extra effort
to ensure Abia State was stabilised security wise,” Oji said.
Speaking with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the event, Alhaji Aliyu Isma’ila,
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, described Ihejirika as ”a
visionary leader who was strategically conscious and patriotic”.
Isma’ila also described him as a
professional soldier who did his best for the country and wished him all the
best.
NAN reports that the “pulling out”
parade coincided with the 58th birthday of the former Chief of Army Staff who
was born on Feb. 13, 1956 in Ovim, Isuikwuato Local Government Area
of Abia.
He was commissioned into the Army on
Dec. 17, 1977 as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy 18th Regular
Combatant Course.
He was appointed the Chief of Army
Staff on Sept. 8, 2010 a position he held until Jan 16, this year. (NAN)
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