President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the new Service Chiefs to end insurgency in the northern part of the country, saying they should sleep no more until when Nigerians resident in Borno state could sleep with their two eyes closed.
The President was speaking on Wednesday during the decoration of the Service Chiefs at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja.
The new service chiefs and their new ranks are Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant- General Kenneth Tobia Minimah; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu
According to President Jonathan, “None of us will sleep till the Nigerians in Borno state can sleep. Whenever I am decorating military officers, I commend their wives because it is not easy to be barrack-based and for you to rise to this height.
“But, the service chiefs I don’t know whether I will congratulate you or I will sympathize with you because of the circumstances of the moment.
“So I think I will wish you what I wish myself every year and may we have enough time this period because none of us will sleep until Nigerians in Borno state can sleep.
“That is why I say today is not a moment for major statements. We will be having very frank talks from time to time, but definitely Nigerians will tell you what they expect from us.
“We must not fail this country and I believe this team will work together to be assisted by other intelligence services because the war against terror must be won in this country.”
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Badeh, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them, assuring that they would go to work immediately to stem terrorism.
While pledging loyalty to all democratically elected officials, Badeh assured the Armed Forces would continue to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.
“Security challenges are inimical to development because security means development and without security there can also not be development.
“When a nation’s military is at war, the whole nation is at war, therefore every Nigerian must sacrifice,” Badeh said.
