Against the backdrop of insecurity and economic hardship challenges plaguing the country,, former Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy and the Chairman, North East Development Commission, Major Gen Paul Tarfa (Rtd) has disclosed that despite these challenges, Nigerians should not give up hope but remain steadfast for a brighter future.
Gen Tarfa spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the 40th Anniversary celebration of Short Service Combatant Course (SSC Course 25, NDA) at the Command Officers Mess, Abuja on Saturday.
He said, “We should have hope. This country should have hope no matter what we are facing today. Even America at a time, they faced more difficulty than what we are facing today. But they are better for it now”
To SSC Course 25 officers who were trained under him as NDA Commandant, Gen Tarfa said, “40 years ago, I was in my early 40’s and you were in your 20’s or thereabout. I thank God for the priviledge that I contributed to your careers and progression in the military and service to the nation”
“We have to thank God that we served in different capacities, lost our colleagues but today we are alive to celebrate 40 years anniversary”
Continuing he said, “Let us (Military) know that we are the ones this country has and relies on to save it from security challenges. Nothing compares to the military. We have about 50 different languages among us but today we remain one and united in the goal of keeping this country safe.
“That is because we are readily trained to sacrifice for the nation irrespective of tribe, ethnicity and religion”.
It would be recall that the SSC 25 set produced General Officers Commanding, Principal Staff Officers, Foreign Defence Advisers, Commandants of Training Institutions, Commanders of Corps and a former Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen Muhammad Dan Ali (Rtd) among others.
In a lecture titled ‘Realism of Kidnapping in Nigeria” delivered by a member of SSC Course 25, Major General Obidah Ethan (Rtd), he said challenges of insecurity in the country persisted as a result of gaps in the entire security sector which has to be narrowed and filled.
According to him, “Present realities on insecurity, kidnapping and other criminalities demand the participation, involvement of all Nigerians. It should no longer be the military and Police alone. It has to be all encompassing
“The country has to come up with a workable strategy. You have to be innovative and think outside the box. The recent talk about establishment of state police is a welcome development but this is just an aspect. It should not be taken in isolation”.
On how the military can rise above new criminal scenarios being introduced by terrorists and bandits, Gen Ethan said, “There is no success in combat by accident. Training is the key. You succeed in warfare by training and you succeed by inculcating modern trends of domestic, kinetic and private security”
Chairman of the SSC Course 25, christiened Feinds Club 2584, Brigadier General John Abuka (Rtd) disclosed that FC2584 has come of age not only in terms of span of life but was still a baby with fragile clay feet.
“We all therefore must be committed morally and financially to nurture this club to greatness. I humbly call for a change of attitude from all of us especially those who have not really been playing the roles expected of all members.
“Fate did not make any mistakes when it brought us to together to begin the life of soldiering on that fateful 5th day of March, 1984. There’s strength in large numbers. Lets exploit the advantages that number has to offer.
“In the course of our stewardship, we had the sad experience of loosing a number of our members to the cold hands of death. They include Lt Col AY Edrah, Capt MIke Mkpang, Capt BC Garba, Capt ECN Obi, Maj Didioma and most recently, Lt Col AB Mohammed
“The Short Service Combatant Course 25, 40th anniversary of our entry into the service of the Nigerian Army is being modestly marked on account of the prevailing harsh economic climate and the fact that majority of us have still not seen the need to appropriately respond to our constitutionally enshrined financial obligations to our club.
“Be that as it may, let us give all glory to God Almighty for His mercy over us over the years.”
Special awards were presented to members who had contributed immensely to sustaining the freinds club since its formation.
A new executive was elected to pilot the affairs of Short Service Combatant Course 25 with Major Gen Sulaiman Aliyu (Rtd) taking over as President and Captan Karga (Rtd) taking over as Secretary of Freinds Club 2584.
