…DECORATES THREE “ONE-STAR” GENERALS
By Okosun Dennis
Newly promoted One-Star Generals of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, have been told to be professional and adhere strictly to the professional ethos of the military.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Lawrence Fejokwu gave the advise on Friday while decorating the promoted officers at the Division Officers’ Mess, Marina, Lagos.
The elevated officers included the former Aide-de-Camp to President Mohammadu Buhari and Commander, 81 Division Provost Group, Brig Gen Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, Brig-Gen Nicholas Rume, Commanding Officer, 243 Recce Battalion, Badagry and Brig Gen N. Mohammed, Director, 81 Division Education Corps.
In his remarks after decorating them, the GOC who was assisted by the spouses of the newly promoted officers observed that
“It is a day we always look forward to where deserving officers promoted are decorated. Your promotion is borne out of dent of hard work.”
In his words, he implored them to “Study your boss, know how the kind of person and act accordingly. Don’t be scared to go to your boss and point out things in a very polite manner with him the way you think is right.
“Be professional and be very firm in all your doings. Continue to develop and mentor your subordinates and in doing that, you must be firm and show empathy.
“Maintain critical assets at your disposal within limited resources and those you cannot maintain within available resources, escalate it to the division for necessary intervention.
“I will be very angry seeing critical assets rotting away.
“Let your personal discipline inspire your subordinates as you don’t need to threaten them to be disciplined but let them look at you and see the need to toil your line. Your journey to becoming a Major General starts today,” the GOC reiterated.
Shortly after being decorated with his rank badges and other accouterments, Brig-Gen Abubakar in an interview with our correspondent expressed joy for the opportunity to be promoted.
While calling on his subordinates not to dispel but work assiduously to earn promotion, observed that “Promotion comes from God. The best may not be the best opportunity. Some of our coursemates have paid the supreme price in Sierra Leone, Liberia and in other Internal Security Operations.
“For those not yet promoted, there are other opportunities. The pyramid gets narrower as you grow higher and very few people get to the peak. For us, we are grateful to the Commander in Chief and particularly the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya for finding us worthy.
For Brig-Gen Nicholas Rume, he expressed gratitude to the leadership of the army for finding them worthy of the elevation as the responsibility is leadership as an officer.
“As the rank increases, responsibilities increase as well especially towards subordinates to lead them right and achieve the aim of the Armed Forces,” he concluded.
In his advice to the promoted officer, the 9 Brigade Commander, Brig Gen Lander Saraso called on them to make their words of command as distinct and clear as possible and should ensure that their orders are thoroughly understood by men and officers under their command.
While rendering the vote of thanks, one of the decorated officers, Brig Gen Mohammed thanked the COAS, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya for approving their promotion, pledging that they would continue to remain loyal to him. He thanked his family for their moral support and for keeping the family going in their absence.
The brief ceremony was witnessed by the families, friends and well-wishers of the promoted officers.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army Council had on the 21st December announced the promotion of senior officers of the forces.
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/be-professional-in-your-duty-inspire-your-subordinates-gen-fejokwu/
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