Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II on Tuesday gave Nigerian Army thumb up for their commitment to the unity of the country, not minding the antics of some forces trying to undermine the system for their selfish intentions.
Oba Balogun, in a press statement issued on his behalf by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola spoke during the courtesy call on him in his Alarere residence by the recently appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who came alongside some senior members of the Armed Forces.
The monarch, who served as a member of the Senate Committee on Nigerian Army while in the Senate between 1999 and 2003 disclosed that the Nigerian Army has kept its head high in spite of the myriad of challenges facing the country of recent, a posture he said continuously wins his admiration of the force.
While praying for the success of the new COAS and his team under the Presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Oba Balogun emphasized the importance of peace in any society, saying, “there is no alternative to peace as it remains the pivot upon which the pillars of progress, prosperity, growth and development rest.
“You, I mean Armed Forces hold a very crucial and strategic position in the task of taking our country out of the woods. You need all the necessary support and prayers and it is my prayers for you that the Almighty Allah will grant you all what it takes to achieve the set objective of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give us a new Nigeria which all of us will be proud of”, Oba Balogun added.
The Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, (a retired Major of the Nigerian Army) commended the new COAS for taking his time to visit the monarch, describing the visit as the first from such a ranking military officer since the inauguration of Oba Balogun over a year ago.
Speaking in line with Oba Balogun, High Chief Olakulehin remarked that the role of the military in the life of Nigeria, either while in charge as military government or under the democratic dispensation cannot be overemphasized and charged the new COAS to remain focused and committed to the assigned duties towards justifying the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu.
The Baba-Kekere Olubadan of Ibadanland, Prince Sen. Kola Balogun who welcomed the visitors on behalf of Olubadan and his members of Advisory Council disclosed that he too served as a member of the Senate Committee of the Nigerian Army during his membership of the immediate past 9th Assembly and said that afforded him a close interaction with the military.
He recalled that the Nigerian Army “has remained a pride to the country by its display of professionalism, loyalty, gallantry and commitment to the cause of its establishment either in ensuring that Nigeria is saved and secured or while on peace keeping missions outside the shore of the country which has won the country international medals.
“The Nigerian Government has been doing its very best too to ensure that funds have been allocated to the Armed Forces within the scope of availability, this I can attest to while in the Senate. The import of this is that the government at all times realizes the crucial roles fund can play in ensuring that our officers and men are exposed to regular trainings and equally motivated by addressing their welfare”, Sen. Balogun added.
In his short address, the COAS applauded the hospitality of Ibadan people from the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the monarch and the generality of the people as experienced by him and his people since arriving the Oyo State capital for the Army Week holding at the Headquarters of the 2nd Div., Nigerian Army, Odogbo Cantonment, Ojoo, Ibadan.
The Army Officer equally expressed gratitude to the traditional institution in the country for the success of the Nigerian Army so far, just as he solicited for more of such under the new dispensation being headed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that “the Nigerian Army cannot make headway if the traditional institution doesn’t support it.
“We are aware of the challenges ahead of us and we are ready to confront them head long. We need you, our Royal fathers as the custodian of our culture and the father of all to achieve our set goals. You have always been there for us and if I say that we need you more now, I’m not mincing words and I have the conviction that we can always count on your royal support”, he added.
