‘INSURGENCY IN THE NORTH EAST MUST END BY APRIL’-CDS

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh has said the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east must be brought to a stop before April this year.
The CDS spoke during a handing over and taking over ceremony fromthe outgoing CDS, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim at the Defence head quarters in Abuja.
According to Air Marshal Badeh, “The security situation in the north east must be brought to a complete stop, before April 2014. I was telling my colleagues that we must bring it to a stop by that April so that we do not have constitutional problems in our hands.”
He explained that, “We don’t want to go back to Senate to go and start begging and lobbying, if we do our work cohesively I can guarantee that General Minimah, you will finish that thing in no time.”
The New CDS also said, “The youth say there are members of this thing in the armed forces and what, those of you that are here send word to your colleagues there that they are in trouble, we are coming after you.”
Air Marshal Badeh also said, “I shall do my best to guide the armed forces of Nigeria toward achieving the desired successes. Unity of command is the preferred method of achieving unity of effect and effort by our military forces.”
On his part, the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim warned that the Nigerian armed forces exist to deepen democracy and not undermine it, saying, “The soul of our armed forces is to deepen our democracy.”
Only 5 general to retire-Ihejerika
The outgoing Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, stated that the Nigeria Army has only five senior officers earmarked for retirement after the appointment of General Minimah and not over 30 as carried in certain parts of the media.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony to the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Keneth Minimah , General Azuibike asked the press to always clarifies issues before publication.
General Ihejerika warned against overheating the polity especially with the issue of insurgency in the North east, saying no military commander will encourage his troops to violate the human rights of citizens.
In his first speech as the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Keneth Minimah said under his leadership the Nigerian army will remain loyal to the constitution of the Federal Republic and President Goodluck Jonathan as Commander in Chief.
Radically transforming Air Force-COAS
The new chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Mashal Adesola Amosu said the objective of his administration is to radically transform the air force into a fighting force ready for the emerging challenges of the twenty first century.
He said, “In my view the approach to take the Nigerian Air Force to a new level of effectiveness ought to be revolutionary, considering our limited resources, deteriorating environment and the disturbing number of unserviceable aircrafts.”
The new navy Chief added that, “it is absolutely necessary to focus on joint warfare capabilities, innovative ideas and pursuit of credible international alliance to stamp out threats to national security.”
Air Vice Marshal Amosu spoke when he took over command from the outgoing Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh, who is the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff.
Committed to fighting oil theft-CNS
The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin, said about 80 percent of funds accruing to the nation is from the maritime sector, noting that anything that inhibits these funds is a declaration of war.
He promised to work on transforming the navy through effective training with the right mix of operations and effective welfare to check the myriad of security challenges in the maritime sector.
In his speech the outgoing CNS Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba said piracy; oil theft and sea robbery has been reduced to its barest minimum through the support and cooperation of officer and men of the Navy.
Vice Admiral Ezeoba charged the new CNS to continue the implementation of the Strategic Work Plan and Guide line document, aimed at repositioning the navy to international standards.
He lamented that the navy must address the housing deficit it is suffering by acquiring new barracks and adequate accommodation to reduce the huge sums spent on accommodating senior officer in the recent past.
Source: Daily Trust