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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Zubairu Gambo, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Navy to defend Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
He warned the officers to remain neutral, professional and apolitical while discharging their duties in the upcoming general elections, saying the navy would not tolerate any act of indiscipline.
They he navy chief warned them not to engage in any acts of misdemeanor or take laws into their hands that could bring the Service disrepute while discharging their duty.
The CNS, gave the warning at the First Quarter Route March held at the Navy town in Abuja. He urged them to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to the nations democracy and constituted authority.
Represented by the Chief Of Policy and Plans(COPP), Rear Admiral Sai’du Gatba, the CNS, who said that The Route March was organized earlier than scheduled as a show of force to prepare personnel to be mentally and physically fit for the mission elections, noted that it is aimed at developing personnel physical and mental alertness to meet the dynamics of contemporary security operations as well as fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue for relaxation.
Gambo, while noting the primarily responsibility of the navy of protecting the nation’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea maritime security arrangement, the CNS, said the navy as a major participant in Internal Security duties all over the country, would continue to meet up with its constitutional commitments in collaboration with other security agencies to improve national security.
Speaking on the upcoming elections scheduled for next Saturday, the CNS, said “I wish to remind you all that the political activities in the country for the forthcoming general election have reached a climax hence, I urge you to maintain neutrality and be apolitical.
“I enjoin you to be more professional in the conduct of your duties and day to day activities. Furthermore, I encourage you not to engage in any acts of misdemeanor or take laws into your hands that could bring the Service disrepute in the course of your duty.
“The Nigerian Navy will continue to support you by providing all the needs to function optimally in the area of your responsibilities. Additionally, I charge you all to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to our democracy and constituted authority.”
Continuing, he said: “Suffice to state that the performance we have witnessed today guarantees that the Nigerian Navy will continue to meet up with its constitutional commitments in collaboration with other security agencies in Nigeria to improve national security.
“It is pertinent to reinstate the fact that the Nigerian Navy remains a formidable partner in the internal security operations across the Country. That is why fitness and mental alertness are among the critical elements of the CNS policy thrust. It is with this mind that, the Nigerian Navy organizes a one-day route match every quarter aimed at raising the level of physical fitness of personnel in the NN. To this end, I enjoin you all to keep the flag flying by diligently performing your duties while maintaining utmost regard to human rights. I urge you to continue to be law abiding citizens and at the same time stress the need to maintain cordial and improved relationship with our civilian populace and relevant stakeholders.
“This is more so, that your duty to defend the territorial integrity of our fatherland will be meaningless if the Nigerian populace is not enjoying harmonious relationship with the Armed Forces. Similarly, we can only be proud if their safety and wellbeing is assured as law abiding citizen.”
He said: “As you are aware, the Nigerian Navy has just concluded Operation OBAGAME EXPRESS. The Exercise was aimed at partnering with regional and global maritime stakeholders on the security of maritime domain especially within the Gulf of Guinea as well as building capacity on Maritime Domain Awareness of littoral states within the African Continent.
“Let me conclude by saying Bravo Zulu to all those that participated and successfully completed the Route March. This is a clear demonstration of your mental/physical fitness and readiness to render support in the conduct of the forthcoming general election when called upon.”
