The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, has urged the officers and men of the Nigerian Army to make professionalism, discipline and adherence to the ethics of the Army, their watchwords.
Yahaya disclosed this, on Monday, while declaring open the 2021 Annual Convention of the Regimented Sergeant Majors (RSMs), with the theme: Professionalism in a Regimented Environment: The RSM in Perspective”, at the Headquarters of the 2 Division Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Addressing the officers at the opening ceremony of the convention, the Chief of Army Staff, emphasised the need for training and retraining of his men, expressing concern about the attitudes of some of the officers and charging them to rise up and restore the dignity of their respective offices which, accroding to him, would ensure sanity in the Army.
Yahaya stated: “RSMs are very important and essential links within officers and soldiers. Indeed they are custodians of the Nigerian Army ethics, customs and traditions. In every unit, the RSM is considered as the father of that unit. He is the one who keeps the history, customs and traditions of that unit and if there is any issue to be cleared about those aspects that concern regimentation, RSM is the last resort and when he speaks that ends it.”
In his remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, noted that the men of the armed forces, especially the army, are not being appreciated as they should, saying the officers, who are risking their lives for the territorial integrity of Nigeria, are not only fighting for the Nigerian integration, but also dealing with insurgency, banditry, cattle rustling and things that conventionally shouldn’t be their jobs as soldiers.
He said, “With my little experience, the army is an army if the RSM would do their job because discipline and ensuring that the rank and file are in the shape for warfare rests more on the shoulders of the senior non-commissioned officers rather than the top officers.”
He promised that the state government, under Governor Seyi Makinde, would continue to support the Division and the Nigerian Army in general.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Gold Chibuzor, charged the participants to see the convention as a platform to position themselves for their roles in actualising the vision of the Chiefof Army Staff.
He asserted: “The theme: Professionalism in a Regimented Environment: The RSM in Perspective” was aptly coined and will no doubt help to equip the RSMs with the requisite knowledge to perform their roles and promote professionalism. You RSMs should therefore avoid distractions and make the best of this convention. Embrace it with all seriousness to ensure you return to your units and formations better equipped to perform your roles.”
The convention had in attendance Regimented Sergent Majors from all formations of the Nigerian Army.
The climax of the opening ceremony of the convention was the presentation of souvenirs to dignitaries including Brig. General Raji Rasaki, a former Military Administrator in Ogun and Lagos states. Some pictures below:
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