Yuletide: Army Charges Soldiers to be Apolitical
The need for soldiers to remain apolitical as they discharge their duties in line with their rules of engagement, has been emphasized by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. – Gen. Olu Irefin.
Irefin who was speaking during the Division’s Christmas Carol of Nine Lessons 2019, held over the weekend, also called on officers and men to be loyal and dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.
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At the Carol which held at the Hippo House, Oyekan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi, the GOC in his Christmas Goodwill Message, further charged soldiers to continue with the good works they have been doing even in the new year.
” A lot is expected from us as we move into the new year. We must prepare our minds to be loyal, re-energized and dedicate ourselves to the service of this country.
“We must remain apolitical, and must do that which we must do to make everyone within our area to be happy.
Sometimes, it might be in form of scarifice from individual because that is the path we have taken so that this country would be at peace.
“At any point during the incoming year, we are called upon either for rotation or any other duty, please let’s put in our strength, let’s go with all the courage and be the best at all times.
I appeal to officers and men within the Lagos and Ogun Area of Responsibility, to continue to do the good work they are doing, ” he said.
Taking the first lesson from Genesis Chapter 3: 8-15, Irefin, admonished Christians to uphold the tenets of good neighbourliness, while making individual sacrifices that exemplifies God.
The Director of Chaplain Service, Brig.-Gen. (Very Rev Father) Iroegbu, who gave the Christmas Message, admonished Christians to emulate the virtues exhibited by Christ by contributing their quota in making the society a better place.
He said: “Christ came so that our society can be better. In similar vein, we can make our society and environment better than we met it. Christmas is about love and sharing what you have; identify with one another and being truthful with one another.”
The Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who was also present at the Carol, called on Lagosians to be security conscious during and after the yuletide period.
While stating that emergency is everybody’s business, Oke-Osanyintolu, urged people to take early warning signs seriously, as well as avoid habits that could cause disaster within their environment.
The Chairperson, Nigerian Army Officer’s Wives Association (NAOWA), 81 Division Chapter, Mrs Olayemi Irefin, was also at the occasion, where she took the 6th lesson from the book of Matthew 1: 18-25, which captured the story of the birth of Jesus.
