By Linus Aleke
Mogadishu Cantonement, popularly known as Abacha Barracks, venue of the pulling out parade for the 22nd Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya (Rtd), was electrified by the military pump and pageantry, put together to bid farewell to an excellent army commander, whose over 37 years military career came to a glorious end.
The early morning drizzling at the venue of the pulling out parade added colours, instead of disrupt the titillating and captivating military parade, that accompanied a fulfilled military General out of marshal regimentation into boundless freedom of civil life, in retirement.
The stately and magnificent display of the troops on parade during the ceremonial splendour of the passing out parade, signposts commitment, excellence and professionalism that the military establishment in Nigeria, is known for.
In his solemn farewell speech, the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya Rtd, told the audience that he is exiting the service a fulfilled Nigerian Army officer, having risen to the exalted office of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
His solemn speech which, was punctuated by profound gratitude to God for His grace, mercies and guidance all through his military career, appreciated his colleagues for their support and loyalty.
He said: “As the saying goes, everything that has a begining, must have an end, and here we are today to celebrate the end of my career in the Nigerian Army. Today is no doubt a memorable day for me and my family. I thank Almighty God for his grace blessings mercies and bounties that saw me all through my career in the Nigerian Army up till today that I am leaving the service. I must say that it has only been God and his grace”.
Going down memory lane, the former COAS said, “My military career commenced on 27th September, 1985, when I reported to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as a member of 37th Regular Course. From that time to date, it has been an eventful and rewarding experience. Like every military career, my service years was filled with sessions of excitement and gratitude, as well as pains of odious and demanding experiences. In all, I am grateful to God, my dear family and all of you for your support, steadfastness and prayers”.
He continued, “As great Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other man’s consent or support,’ there is no gainsaying that over the years of my career, I have received great support, tutelage, motivation, and multitude of prayers from my superiors, my family, friends and contemporaries across various work of life. All these, paved the path for the great milestone and successes recorded through out my tour of duty as a military officer, in the Nigerian Army. I must therefore thank God for my successful tour of my military service”.
Further recalling his steady career progression and assigned command responsibilities that honed and shaped his leadership skill as a top military brass, the Fellow, Historical Society of Nigeria, noted that
by His grace, he had been through the major segment of military officers career of command, instructional and even extra-regimental appointments.
“In Command, from being a platoon commander, to company commander, commanding officer, brigade commander, general officer commanding, theatre commander, amongst several others before assuming command as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army,” he disclosed.
While appreciating his predecessors, for their dedication and service to the Nigerian Army, Gen. Yahaya Rtd, said that their efforts significantly addressed some of the security challenges in the country during their tenure and provided good platform on which others can build upon.
He noted that it was on that effort and platform that he tried to build, which enabled him to contribute his own quota towards the upliftment of the Nigerian Army.
He said, “On assumption of command in Nigerian Army, I conceived and visualized an ideal army which I sought to build. This was the outcome of my thorough assessment of the existing Nigeria Army’s capability, visa vis challenges and expectations for current as well as future operations. My interest was to build Nigerian Army that will have flexibility, capacity and capability to operate under all conditions, in collaboration with other services and agencies.
It was on this premise, that I couched my vision for the Nigeria Army, which was, ‘to have a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defense of Nigeria’. I am glad to say that we have made significant effort in achieving the effort”.
Speaking earlier on Friday, at the brief but colourful handing over ceremony at Army Headquarters in Abuja, the amiable retired Army General told the audience that he was really fulfilled and delighted, as he was leaving the Nigerian Army better than he met it.
He revealed that he assumed the command of the Nigerian Army on 27th May 2021, at a critical period characterized with security challenges.
The former COAS however, urged officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army to continue to remain committed and dedicated to enable the Army along with other services and agencies completely eradicate the threat of criminality, concluding that military operational activities is aimed at denying terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action.
Earlier, in his address of welcome at the handing over ceremony, the former Chief of Policy and Plans, Army, Major General Anthony Omozoje, Rtd, said the reign of the former COAS witnessed an overwhelming logistics and administrative support to the field, as well as strategic guidance to principal staff officers and commanders.
According to him, “Let Gen Faruk Yahaya’s command of the Nigerian Army was characterized by increased professionalism of the Nigerian Army. Enhanced capacity to deliver on assigned missions, underpin by an application of mission command, unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian Army. We also witnessed an overwhelming logistics and administrative support to the field, strategic guidance to principal staff officers and commanders, with attendant heartwarming outcomes in our operations and training engagements. I am glad to note that the command of the 22nd Chief of Army Staff was defined by openness, sincerity of purpose, inclusiveness and a determination to defend the establishment at all times. There was much compassion and empathy, in fact a very successful and impactful command of the Nigerian Army”.
He further noted that what was even more gladdening was that the incoming Chief of Army Staff, and all who will remain with him to execute the constitutional mandate of the Nigerian Army to Nigeria were all principal and active contributors to the successes recorded in the tenure of Gen Faruk Yahaya.
He expressed optimism that the Nigerian Army is in a good place and that it can only get better, under the leadership of the 23rd Chief of Army Staff.
“For the first time in known history of our army, those who are leaving on the coming on board of a new Chief of Army Staff are leaving with joy, a sense of fulfilment and celebration. All facilitated by the wisdom and superb emotional intelligence of Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya,” he concluded.
While pouring encomium on the out gone Chief of Army Staff, the incumbent Army Chief, Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, promised to improve on the legacy of his predecessor.
He said, “As my leader, my boss and my mentor takes a bow as the 22nd Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, you will all agree with me that in the past 25 months of his leadership, the Nigerian Army has witnessed a milestone transformation. We have seen unprecedented procurement of equipment and prudent management of human and material resources of the Nigerian Army. In his time, the country began to reap the dividend of the cumulative effort of his and his predecessors regime. Currently, we are witnessing, more than ever before, the massive surrending by repentant insurgents in the northeast in a manner that beats the expectations of every observer, local and international”.
He recalled thier earlier encounter as young officers, saying, “Let me reminiscence a little on my relationship with the outgoing chief of Army Staff, our relationship dates back to our Nigerian Defence Academy days, where I enjoyed good mentoring by him. I wish to thank him, for the privilege of serving under him as a General Officer Commanding (GOC), of two different divisions and as Chief of Operations. There is no doubt that the exposure and experience garnered under him will help me in the discharge of my duties as the Chief of Army Staff. Therefore, as you transit into retirement, I wish to assure you that I shall do everything within my power to improve on your legacy of a proficient, effective and admirable Nigerian Army”.
He also, appreciated all the very senior officers that are disengaging from service by the virtue of his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff.
General Lagbaja pointed out that the success they celebrate in General Yahaya would not have been possible without their loyalty and cooperation.
The Nigerian Army, he said, celebrate them, although they were disengaging from service, their experience and wisdom should not be denied the Nigerian Army and the colleagues they are leaving behind.
“Therefore, be rest assured that my team and I shall occasionally knock on your doors to seek guidance, on this note, I promise that I shall discharge my responsibility as the Chief of Army Staff with fairness, merit and hard work,” he concluded.
At the end of pulling out parade on Saturday, very senior officers were seen in clusters discussing in hushed tones, that General Faruk Yahaya Rtd was not only an exceptional officer but also a good man, hence the continued drizzling all through the solemn occasion.
It is on the premise of the above consensus that the author in agreeing with the hypothesis, concludes that the drizzling was indeed a blessings because the former COAS was no doubt a good man.
