Ahead of the 2015 general election, the Nigerian Army has elevated 60 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier-General. New Telegraph gathered from a highly-placed military source that the need to promote the officers, who were all due for elevation, was to facilitate their early deployments to various Areas of Responsibility (AOR) in order to ensure maximum security during and after the elections.
According to the senior military officer, who pleaded anonymity, the Army is disturbed by the actions and utterances of some politicians, and therefore, feels the compelling need to put its foot firmly on ground, in order to contain any form of violence that may threaten peace and security. He assured that the military has total commitment to ensure that democracy is sustained in the country, and so will collaborate with other security agencies to ensure that the 2015 polls are devoid of violence.
Asked whether the military has any constitutional role during elections, he responded that the military would not be at polling stations, but will maintain the vigilance that had earned it accolades when staggered elections were held in the country. The source disclosed that a total of 168 Colonels were listed for promotion, out of which 108 came from the Infantry, Engineering, Artillery and Armoured corps.
He added that the remaining 60, emanated from the Direct Regular (professionals). His words: “Sixty of our Colonels have just been promoted to the Brigadier- General rank, and will soon be decorated and posted to their new Areas of Responsibility.
“This will enable the officers to acquaint themselves with the terrains, in order to beef-up and complement security during and after the [2015] elections. “We will not allow violence to disrupt the peace during elections,” he stated. Asked when their decorations will take place, he answered: “I’m sure they will soon be decorated by the Chief of Army Staff. “Remember, last year, the President decorated newly-promoted Major Generals at the Command Officers’ Mess here in Abuja.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, announced the promotion of 110 senior officers to new ranks. The disclosure was made in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), Air Commodore Dele Alonge. Among the newly-promoted officers, according to the statement, are 16 Air Vice Marshals, 35 Air Commodores, 33 Group Captains as well as 26 Wing Commanders.
“As an annual exercise, the purpose of promotion is to encourage officers and men, to rededicate themselves to assigned duties as well as the development of the Nigerian Air Force and the nation as a whole,” the statement reads. Some of the officers promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal are: Emmanuel Anebi (Commander, 75 Strike Group, Yola), Nurudeen Balogun (Commander, 79 Composite Group, Maiduguri), and Christopher Okoye (Commander, 201 Heavy Airlift Group, Ikeja).
Others are Ajibola Jekennu (Commander, 97 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt), Abdul Bello (Commander, 106 Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force Camp, Abuja), Jacob Adigun (Chief of Accounts and Budget, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force) among others. Some of the newly-promoted Air Commodores are: Ismaila Yahaya, Jackson Yusuf, Joseph Malgwi, Mohammed Suleiman, Emmanuel Chukwu, and Samuel Babalola.
Source: New Telegraph
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