A charge has gone out to soldiers of the Nigerian Army to ensure their absolute loyalty to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu remains intact.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Mohammed Takuti Usman gave the charge on Wednesday, stressing that the Nigerian Armed Forces would not condone any form of disloyalty.
Speaking while addressing soldiers at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Usman stated that their loyalty must be to the President first, and then down the ladder, to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, down to their Brigade Commander.
The GOC warned that there is no room for any form of disloyalty within the military and those who can’t be loyal are free to leave and do other work.
The warning comes amid the military coup spreading across African nations with Gabon being the latest, on Wednesday.
Flanked by the Commander 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Mohammed Tajudeen Aminu, Major General Usman said while the military authorities know there are challenges, they are not peculiar to the Brigade Command and efforts are in top gear to tackle such challenges.
The officer charged the soldiers to always display discipline, loyalty, and top professionalism.
He said; “While we are looking at the challenges and how to solve them, you have to be disciplined soldiers, you have to be loyal soldiers.
“When I mean loyalty, your loyalty must start with the Commander in chief of the Armed Forces who is the President. That’s first, and then down the ladder. Loyalty to the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, down to your Brigade Commander.
“You have to be loyal. There is no room for soldiers that are not loyal to the constituted authority, no. If you are not going to be loyal, then, leave, go and do other work. But the Armed Forces cannot stand it if you are not loyal.
“Discipline, loyalty and top professionalism. We are bearing arms so that other people can sleep well and go about their normal activities. You also have to be hardworking. If you go on any course, make sure you do your best and be among the best. Once you have all these, you will grow in this job.”
The GOC commissioned a Quarter Guard project at the Barrack during his visit, noting that Nigeria wouldn’t be a safe place if there were no soldiers in the country.
