2023 polls: Defend democracy, Navy Chief charges personnel

The Chief of Naval Staff(CNS), Vice Admiral Zubeiru Gambo, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Navy to defend democracy in the country with all they got.

Admiral Gambo also warned the officers to remain neutral, professional and apolitical while discharging their duties in the forth coming general elections, saying the navy would not tolerate any act of indiscipline.

The navy chief warned personnel of the force not to engage in any acts of misdemeanor or take laws into their hands or get involve in such action that could bring the force to disrepute while discharging their duty.
The CNS, gave the warning at the First Quarter Route March held at the Navy town in Abuja, urging the personnel show dedication to duty and unflinching support to the nations democracy and constituted authority.

Admiral Gambo was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Rear Admiral Sai’du Garba, said that The Route March was organized earlier than scheduled as a show of force to prepare personnel to be mentally and physically fit for the mission elections.

He noted that the route march was aimed at developing personnel physical and mental alertness to meet the dynamics of contemporary security operations as well as fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue for relaxation.

Gambo, while noting the primarily responsibility of the navy of protecting the nation’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea maritime security arrangement, the CNS, said the navy as a major participant in Internal Security duties all over the country, would continue to meet up with its constitutional commitments in collaboration with other security agencies to improve national security.
Speaking on the forth coming elections scheduled for next Saturday, the CNS, said “I wish to remind you all that the political activities in the country for the forthcoming general election have reached a climax hence, I urge you to maintain neutrality and be apolitical.
“I enjoin you to be more professional in the conduct of your duties and day to day activities. Furthermore, I encourage you not to engage in any acts of misdemeanor or take laws into your hands that could bring the Service disrepute in the course of your duty.
“The Nigerian Navy will continue to support you by providing all the needs to function optimally in the area of your responsibilities. Additionally, I charge you all to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to our democracy and constituted authority”.
Continuing, he said “Suffice to state that the performance we have witnessed today guarantees that the Nigerian Navy will continue to meet up with its constitutional commitments in collaboration with other security agencies in Nigeria to improve national security.
“It is pertinent to reinstate the fact that the Nigerian Navy remains a formidable partner in the internal security operations across the Country. That is why fitness and mental alertness are among the critical elements of the CNS policy thrust. It is with this mind that, the Nigerian Navy organizes a one-day route match every quarter aimed at raising the level of physical fitness of personnel in the NN. To this end, I enjoin you all to keep the flag flying by diligently performing your duties while maintaining utmost regard to human rights. I urge you to continue to be law abiding citizens and at the same time stress the need to maintain cordial and improved relationship with our civilian populace and relevant stakeholders. “This is more so, that your duty to defend the territorial integrity of our fatherland will be meaningless if the Nigerian populace is not enjoying harmonious relationship with the Armed Forces. Similarly, we can only be proud if their safety and wellbeing is assured as law abiding citizen”.