Presidential Research & Communications Unit

Address by
His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, GCFR,
At the Decoration of CDS, General O.A.Azazi and COAS, Lt.Gen. L.N.Yusuf.
Abuja, 6th June 2007

PROTOCOL

It is with immense joy that I welcome you all to the decoration of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, General O.A.Azazi and the new Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General L.N.Yusuf.

These two worthy officers have been appointed in recognition of the ideals of patriotism, professional excellence, loyalty, dedication, courage, and absolute faith in Nigeria, which have marked their distinguished careers in the Nigerian Army.

As they take up their respective appointments- one as Head of the nation’s Armed Forces and the other as the Head of our Army-, I am confident that they will continue to live up to their oath of allegiance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times.

In seeking to operationalize the Armed Forces, I implore all members of the Armed Forces to rededicate themselves to contributing committedly to the enduring peace, security, stability, growth and development of Nigeria.

We recognize that there are still many challenges in the way of transforming our Armed Forces into a virile, effective, efficient and highly mobile force within the context of the reality of today’s fast globalizing, knowledge and technology-driven world. In spite of these challenges, our Armed Services have remained an abiding source of pride to all Nigerians through their professional excellence, especially in peacekeeping duties across the world.

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.

On our part, we shall continue to provide the requisite funding for the repositioning of the Nigerian Armed Forces for the defence and security challenges presented by a fast evolving world order. This would of course be within the limits of budgetary constraints.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we must salute the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai for the uncommon sense of duty and consummate dedication with which he prosecuted his responsibility. It is in recognition of his devotion, diligence, industry, and commitment to excellence that the United Nation’s Secretary-General specifically requested that our CDS be granted leave to take command of the UN Forces in the Sudan. General Agwai deserves the commendation of us all.

At the conclusion of this decoration ceremony, the new chief of Army staff will be assuming his new position with immediate effect. It is expected that the handing over from General Agwai to General Azazi as CDS will be concluded by Monday, the 11th of July 2007.

As I wish you every success and professional fulfillment in your new assignments, I assure you in my capacity as your Commander-in Chief, that this administration will always provide you all the support and enablement you need to make our Armed Forces a worthy partner in our progress towards a modern, prosperous, industrialized Nigeria. God bless our Armed Forces. God bless Nigeria. Thank you.