Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The Minister of Defence Lt. Gen. Aliyu Mohammed (Rtd), has warned officers of the Nigerian Navy not to allow themselves to be used as instruments of destabilising the nation or be ready to face dire consequences.
He gave the charge ob Friday as the reviewing officer at the passing out parade (POP) and commissioning ceremony of Direct Short Service Commission Course 22 Cadets at Nigerian Naval College, Onne, Rivers State.
Mohammed, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, also warned the cadets not to allow themselves be used by anybody for unscrupulous or political gains.
His words; "I implore you to focus on the Nigerian Navy's role of supporting the government in maintaining political stability and not allow yourselves to be used as an instrument for destabilising our great nation. Remember, severe disciplinary actions await the erring ones. As the saying goes, 'to be fore warned is to be fore armed’.”
He charged the new officers to be disciplined and diligent in their service to the nation and also relate well with both their colleagues and civilians.
“You must exhibit total and unflinching loyalty to the service and to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a larger society, you should relate well with your colleagues in arms and civilians alike.
"Above all, you must not allow yourselves to be used mischievously by anybody for any unscrupulous or political gains.”
Mohammed also warned the new officers that they could, in no distant time, be deployed to trouble spots as a result of on-going internal security challenges in the country.
“In this regard, I enjoin you to keep afresh in memory the internal security training you have been given, as a lot of it would come in handy when you are deployed for internal security duties or operations,” he said.
Also, he charged them to focus on the Nigerian Navy's role of supporting the Federal Government in maintaining political stability, adding that they should not be agents of destabilisation.
A total of 110 cadets successfully completed the nine months intensive training, and five of them received awards for outstanding performances.
SOURCE: THISDAY gathered that the cadets were the first to be trained in the Nigerian Naval College in 20 years as the navy had relied on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) for training until last year.
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