The Nigerian Defence Academy has completed the plan and secured the funding requirements for the building of a ‘Counter Terrorism Village’ for training of Cadets right from Cadetship, in a bid to ensure the end of terrorism in the country.
Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, the 28th Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna who was on Tuesday 26th November 2019 pulled out of Military service after the mandatory 35 years in service, made the disclosure in Kaduna.
At a colourful parade ceremony held at the NDA parade ground, Afaka permanent site, General Oyebade said he owed his entire sojourn in the Nigerian Army to God almighty, the nation and his superiors, serving and retired who helped in moulding him into the officer he became in life.
Recalling that at several times in his career, he was declared (MIA), Missing in Action during the Liberian War, (KIA), Killed in Action during the Sierra Leone Civil War and Back from the dead after gunshot injury in operation, Oyebade said, “Moving further to serve the nation during the Niger Delta crisis, the Bakassi peninsula crisis and conducting several operations for the peace and stability of the country has made me a fulfilled man”.
He continued, “In the course of my career, God was with me. I never faltered nor stumbled. As General Officer Commanding 1 division, Nigerian Army, I never thought about it nor believed that one day, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai will make me the 28th Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
“At the NDA, my 2 years sojourn has been quite eventful. We virtually re-wrote what has been on ground. We renovated hundreds of accommodation, completed virtually all abandoned projects. We have also reviewed the Academy curriculum”.
Consequently, he said, “This day is a beautiful day in my life. I stand before you, a very fulfilled officer, completely satisfied officer. I say this in recognition of the about 37 years I have served the nation starting on that beautiful day in July 1982″.
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While commending his spouse for standing firmly with him in the face of many challenges in his life, General Oyebade said, ” I want to acknowledge a woman who has been with me from the beginning, my wife, Mrs Florence Oyebade. I doubt if I will be where I am today without a strong prayerful woman who stood by me.
Furthermore, he thanked President Muhammad Buhari, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and the service chiefs for all the support rendered to him as commandant of NDA even as he declared his readiness and willingness to continue to obey the national call anytime his services were deemed needed.
Highlights of the ceremony was the singing and chanting of the name of Major General Oyebade by soldiers and family members of the Academy as well as Cadets for his contributions to the academy especially in the area of accommodation, and other welfare programmes.
Some soldiers and family members who spoke to SecurityKing News in confidence disclosed that in the past 10 years, they had never seen a Commandant that is so caring about the welfare of officers,soldiers and their families.
Even Cadets that had been on the receiving end, with dismissals letters flying left right and center even after almost completing years of training over minor misdeamenor, were reassessed, reorientated and given second chances to change rather than thrown out to become terrors to the society.
Recall that his successor, Major General Jamil Sarham, the former GOC at 6 division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt had since taken over as the 29th Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Among dignitaries at the Pulling Out ceremony were the GOC 1 division, Kaduna, Major General Farouk Yahaya, Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin, Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi who represented the CDS, Rear Admiral FF Ogu, who represented CNS, AVM LS Alao who represented Minister of Defence, Mr Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna state commissioner of Internal Security who represented Governor Nasir El Rufai and Commander Infantry Corps, Major General Stevenson Olabanji.
Also present were past NDA Commandants and Deputy Commandants, Coursemates of General Oyebade at NDA, Course 32,
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