The president set the task when he
decorated the CDS, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba and the
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, with their new ranks.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika, who retained his position and rank in the new appointments
made by the president on October 4, was not decorated.
“I will like to use this forum to
specially charge you to rise to the remaining security challenges confronting
our nation today, most specifically the chief of naval staff along with his
officers and men have onerous responsibility of scaling security in our
territorial waters.
“The unacceptable rising incidences of
crude oil theft must be tackled frontally.
“Given the direct adverse implication
of the activities of crude oil thieves on our national economy, I expect the chief
of naval staff and the other service chiefs to immediately go to work to
urgently bring the issue of crude oil theft to an end.”
Jonathan noted that the appointment of
the new officers was based on the attributes of “patriotism, professionalism,
excellence, loyalty, dedication, courage and unwavering faith in Nigeria”.
He said the service chiefs were taking
up the command of the armed forces at a critical time when the nation faced
security challenges.
He expressed optimism that given their
experiences and by working in synergy with other security services, the service
chiefs would overcome.
He charged them to bring fresh impetus
in the renewed security architecture to combat the menace of terrorism across
the country in all its ramifications.
“The safety of lives and property in
all parts of the country is a sacred obligation of this administration and we
will do everything in our powers to live up to it.
“We cannot allow threat to our national
security to compromise our national transformation efforts,” he said.
The president expressed the nation’s
gratitude to the immediate past CDS, retired Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi
Petinrin and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Dikko Umar.
He also paid tribute to fallen heroes
and expressed the commitment of his administration to the welfare and
well-being of men and women of the armed forces.
Earlier, Ibrahim had on behalf of his
colleagues thanked the president for the promotion and honour done to them and
assured him of their commitment and loyalty.
He said, “We are fully aware of the
critical state of affairs and considerable security challenges facing our
country.
“Be assured, Mr. President, of our own
determination and commitment to dealing decisively with those security
challenges.
“We are poised to support you, Mr.
President, in your quests to put in place a stable polity, to deepen our
democracy and enthrone the rule of law in our country.
“Permit me, Mr. President, to attest to
the unalloyed loyalty, dedication, high professional standards and competence
of all your choices.”
Born on June 15, 1955, Ibrahim is a
graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and the Armed Forces Command
and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The new CDS also holds the Bachelor of
Laws Degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Masters Degree from the
War Studies and Public Policy Institute at King’s College, University of
London.
He trained with the Royal Indian Navies
and had tours of duty on Nigerian naval ships in various capacities.
Ibrahim is a navigation and direction
specialist and wears the Command at Sea badge for successful command at sea on
various Nigerian naval ships.
In February 2009, he was appointed as
the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, the appointment he held till
his elevation to the Chief of Naval Staff on September 8, 2010 and as CDS on
October 4, 2012.
Born in January 1957 in Adamawa, the
new Chief of Air Staff is a 1979 graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy where
he was commissioned as pilot officer.
Badeh also has a Masters Degree in
Strategic Studies from University of Ibadan.
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