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The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has promised to make the country peaceful if confirmed by the National Assembly.
The Army Chief, who was appointed in an acting capacity following the recent death of Gen Taoreed Lagbaja, made the pledge when he appeared on Wednesday before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army at the National Assembly Complex.
He called for partnerships and cooperation with neighbouring countries to address insecurity and make the countries safer for habitation.
He said, “I am honoured this evening (Wednesday) to be considered worthy to play a part in these efforts, and I look forward to contributing my utmost best by working with the National Assembly and other stakeholders in bringing lasting peace to the length and breadth of our dear country, Nigeria.
“I humbly appear before you today to be confirmed as the 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army simply because tragedy befell our Army and Armed Force when the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, passed after a brief illness.
“Although before his passing, I had been appointed by Mr President, His Excellency Bola Tinubu to act in his place pending his expected full recovery and resumption of duty as the Chief of Army Staff then.
“After Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s demise and state funeral on November 15, 2024, Mr President, in his wisdom, found me worthy to fully continue the excellent job the Army has been doing here and get confirmed by the National Assembly.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, the army boss recalled his journey in the military profession.
“I have served this great nation as an officer of the Nigerian Army for over 30 years. My exposure to national security issues at the junior, middle, and senior cadres of the military profession has prepared me adequately for the assignment I am being screened for here today.
“In the past five years or thereabout, I have operated at the senior operational and management levels of the Nigerian Army, and I have been somewhat involved in running the service in its entirety.
“Thus, I cannot completely distance myself from the successes or setbacks of our great army in the past couple of years. However, I see my nomination as the Chief of Army Staff as a privileged opportunity to be in the driver’s seat and bring about more positive changes to the Nigerian Army to enable it to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.
“Thus, if confirmed by this joint committee and given the common mandate to lead the Nigerian Army during this period, I promise to do my best to justify the confidence imposed in me by the appointing authority, which is His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the confirming authority which is you members of the National Assembly and the generality of Nigerians.”
To combat the challenges of insecurity, the Nigerian Army, he said, requires aircraft for its operations.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, said Nigeria has what it takes to address her sundry security challenges.
“The current dynamics of global security demand innovative and adaptive strategies. Threats are no longer confined to traditional battlefields; they now extend to cyberspace, economic domains and even the socio-political fabric of nations.
“In light of this, we must prioritise a forward-looking approach to national defence, ensuring that our military is well-equipped and adequately trained to address both conventional and emerging threats,” he said.
Benson said the House will continue to provide the necessary legal frameworks and champion adequate funding of the armed forces to enhance its operations.
He charged Oluyede to make professionalism his watchword, stressing that his assignment carries a deep and heavy responsibility.
“If confirmed, you will be expected to foster synergy among security agencies, prioritise the welfare of troops and uphold the trust of Nigerians. This committee will ask questions that reflect the concerns of our constituents and the nation as a whole,” he added.
