Former aide-de-camp to former President Umaru Yar’adua, Dennis Mustapha Onoyoveita, and one of the survivors of the ill-fated Dornier 228 NAF aircraft that crashed in Benue in 2006 killing 11 generals, Nuhu Agbazo, and 12 others have been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General from Colonel and decorated yesterday.
While speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Azubuike Ihejriika, said that he was delighted to decorate the officers with their new ranks as he had no doubt that they had the capacity in them to move the Nigerian Army forward.
He urged them to look at the promotion beyond the adding of titles, but as a challenge to make them face the security issues confronting the nation.
“Every leader, commander or administrator will consider a day like this his happiest moment, seeing loyal, hard-working and disciplined officers promoted to higher ranks. Though the selection process was tedious and painstakingly lengthy, it goes to show that hard work pays as well as the grace of God,” he said.
He recalled how he had warned promoted officers two years ago not to see promotion as chieftancy titles, but rather as reward for hardwork and a demonstration of confidence on the part of the leadership recognizing that there was still a lot the officer could offer the nation.
He also encouraged those who missed out on the promotion not to give up, adding that it was due to a lack of vacancies that only 14 were promoted Brig.-Generals and that as long as they remained committed and hard-working, other opportunities would come.
He also assured the junior officers that promotions were not the exclusive preserve of senior officers, adding that 2900 soldiers were promoted that day and more were on the way once the documentation is verified by next month.
“10,000 soldiers have been recommended for promotion by their various commanders and this will be looked into as a way of motivating hardworking and highly trained personnel to continue to put in the utmost to service of their fatherland.”