Yar’Adua’s younger brother quits Army

Posted by admin Latest Politics Sunday, December 11th, 2011

The younger sibling of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua at the weekend resigned from the Army in a grand ceremony, which also saw the disengagement of three Major-Generals.
Identified as Lieutenant Colonel Abdulazeez Yar’Adua, the officer who was attached to the Signals Corps told Daily Sun that he was leaving the force voluntarily after over 20 years in service.

He was among 16 officers including three Major-Generals, one Brigadier-General, two Colonels and nine Lieutenant-Colonels who were recently disengaged from service. He thanked the hierarchy of the Army for allowing him serve Nigeria through the force, but added that while in service he was never given any preferential treatment, especially as a relation of the former president. Lt-Colonel Yar’Adua said he was leaving the military to enable him take care of some pressing family issues, adding that the move to leave the service was entirely his own decision and not as pressure from within the service.

Earlier, the Commander Corps of Signals, Major-General O. A. C Ariahu, lamented the exit of the 16 officers but added that there was nothing they could do to stop them from leaving: “I feel sad that I am losing the young ones, but circumstances have brought about their leaving because some applied voluntarily and some had to go because it was time for them to go. Every commander who is losing an officer must feel their exit, because it is like losing your own child, but there is nothing we can do about it.”

Former Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army, Major General Augustine Ogunedo who was leading the retiring officers, urged serving officers and men to continue to uphold ethos of military discipline and military professionalism, especially as the country goes through a transformation process.
“You must continue to remain steadfast and uphold the intent and spirit of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and all constituted authority must be absolute.
“Come what may, our political masters must be allowed to continue to steer the ship of state, this must be your resolve, your words and your honour,” he added.wp_posts