Army promises conducive environment for 2019 polls

The military high command has pledged to provide a conducive atmosphere for the 2019 general elections. It warned officers to remain apolitical throughout the exercise.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Mohammed Mohammed, made the promise at the weekend in Kontagora at an event organised by the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA), Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) and 311 Artillery Regiment combined West African Social Activities (WASA).

He said: “Bearing in mind that we have less than 14 days to the presidential election, our mandate is to ensure the peaceful conduct of the elections.”

He warned that any officer found wanting would be sanctioned.

The Commander, NACA, Major-General Abubakar Tarfa, harped on professionalism.

In the meantime, the authorities have released the postings and appointments of some of its senior officers.

Affected was Major-General A.A. Tarfa, who has been redeployed from the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery, to Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership Peacekeeping Centre as commandant.

In a statement yesterday, Major General Mohammed Mohammed, moves from 1 Division Nigerian Army, to the Nigerian Army Signals Corps as Corps Commander.

Major-General C.T. Olukoju, the erstwhile Signal Corps Commander, is now the Director General of the newly created Nigerian Army Simulation Centre (NASIMC) with headquarters in Abuja.

Major-General U.S. Yakubu has been posted to the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery as Corps Commander, Major General C.U. Agulanna, is now with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) as Senior Research Fellow.

Major-General F. Yahaya, the Military Secretary (Army), has been moved to 1 Division Nigerian Army as General Officer Commanding.

Major-General A.R. Bakare was deployed to Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC) as Chief of Army Accounts and Budget.

Similarly, Brigadier-General D.O. Donibo is assuming duties at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry and as Director, Army Training Support Centre (ATSC).

Brigadier General GAT Ochigbano is Acting Military Secretary (Army) while Brigadier-General O.C. Ajunwa heads for the Nigerian High Commission, Brasilia as Defence Adviser.

Brigadier-General ST Shafaru is the new Commander, Engineers, at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command.

Brigadier General B.Y. Baffa is now with the National Defence College as Chief of Staff, just as Brigadier General U.B. Abubakar got appointed as Deputy Military Secretary I.

Brigadier General E.E. Emeka was posted from Army War College Nigeria to 707 Special Forces Brigade as Commander.

Also affected by the new development was Colonel EC Obi-Osang, who left Defence Headquarters for the Nigerian Army Special Forces Command as Chief of Staff.