Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
President Umaru Yar'Adua yesterday directed the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Luka Yusuf to assume his new position with immediate effect, as he decorated him and the new Chief of Defence Staff, General Andrew Azazi with their new ranks.
…Decorates new CDS, COAS with new ranks
President Umaru Yar'Adua yesterday directed the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Luka Yusuf to assume his new position with immediate effect, as he decorated him and the new Chief of Defence Staff, General Andrew Azazi with their new ranks.
On the occasion in Abuja, he equally ordered that the handing over from the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai to Azazi should be concluded latest by Monday, July 11.
The president, who was assisted in the decoration by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, implored all members of the Armed Forces to rededicate themselves to contributing to the peace, security, stability, growth and development of the country.
He lauded the members of the Armed Forces for their respect and support for the institutions and structures of democratic governance and for restricting themselves to their constitutional roles of protecting and defending the country's territorial integrity.
'Members of the Armed Forces have demonstrated unalloyed respect for the institutions and structures of democratic governance, remaining steadfast and dedicated to their avowed constitutional obligations of protecting and defending Nigeria's territorial integrity," he stated.
Also, in spite of the challenges of transformation into a virile, effective and efficient force in a fast globalising world, President Yar'Adua said the country's Armed Forces has remained a pride to all citizens through their professional excellence, especially in peace-keeping duties across the world.
He said the two decorated generals were appointed in recognition of their patriotism, professionalism, loyalty, dedication, courage and absolute faith in the country all through their career and expressed the hope that they would continue to live up to their oath of allegiance to the federal republic.
He paid tribute to General Agwai, for what he called the former Chief of Defence Staff's uncommon sense of duty and consummate dedication, with which he prosecuted his responsibilities, describing it as the major consideration in his new appointment as the head of the United Nations Forces in Sudan .
The president pledged that his administration would provide the Armed Forces with the necessary support and enablement to make it a worthy partner in the task of evolving a modern, prosperous and industrialised country.