Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commended Guards Brigade Nigerian Army for keeping alive the age long tradition of the West African Social Activities (WASA) and at the same time carrying out its duties of securing the Federal Capital Territories and its environs effectively.
The Governor represented by the State Deputy Governor Dr Emmanuel Akabe made the remarks at the 2021 West African Social Activities organised by the Brigade and held at the General AO Azazi Barracks, 176 Guards Battalion Gwagwalada Abuja recently.
While appreciating the Commander Guards Brigade Brigadier General Muhammed Takuti Usman for organising the important event, the Governor noted that it was indeed great for the military men and their families to come together with their Commanders as well as members of the civil society to unwind and socialise in a manner that carries every ethnic group along after ensuring the security of the nation especially at this point of high insecurity in the nation’s history.
He thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Service Chiefs for all the supports rendered so far to the society particularly to Nasarawa State to ensure that the ordinary citizen has the freedom to go about his or her day to day bussiness sttressing that the state remains grateful to the Brigade and its Units for securing and defending it from the hands of armed bandits and other criminal elements who were bent on making life difficult for the innocent citizens.
He added that apart from its usual military activities, the Brigade has proved that the Nigerian Army is able and ready to keep the country save and would compete favourably with any Brigade elsewhere in the world
The Governor assured the Brigade that the people of Nasarawa state would continue to partner with the Brigade to ensure that criminal gangs are denied freedom to freely operate accross the state commending 177 Guards Battalion situated in Keffi Nasarawa state for being very active in tackling lingering criminal menace accross the state.
He further appreciated the various ethnic groups that made up the Brigade Barracks Community for their display of oneness and also commended the various palatable traditional dishes displayed during the event.
In his remarks, the Commander Guards, Brigadier Gen Muhammed Takuti Usman appreciated the Deputy Governor and other Guests for finding time to attend the Brigade’d West African Social Activities.
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He noted that the social activities was organised to create a free atmosphere for officers, men and members of their families to socialise with their friends from the society after a hard year of active military engagement.
He traced the origin of WASA to the 2nd World War when Nigerian Army served and participated as part of the West African Frontier Forces (WAFF) stressing that during the period, indegenous west african troopswho participated in the war came together to celebrate their cultural heritage with their kings at the end of every year which were ususally marked with sacrificial offerings.
The Commander added that it was also used to celebrate the harvest and begining of a planting season to usher bumper harvest at the begining of the raining season.
He stated that the age long tradition which was inculcated in to the military tradition by the colonial administration is still being very much celebrated accross the West African Militaries in the various countries including Nigeria and has indeed help to command the confidence of troops and foster the spirit of comradeship and esprit de corps as well as sharing in existing cultural heritage among troops and families of the Nigerian Army.
“Since the end of colonialism in 1960, this tradition has been sustained and indeed kept alive by the present day Nigerian Army and has been a reoccuring annual celebration accross Nigerian Army formations and units accross the country” he said.
Brigadier Gen Usman said the celebration has continued to be a link between the old and younger generation of personnel who were not in the service when it was esablished and were probably born outside their traditional community stressing that the celebration of the traditional event marks the fact the Brigade has been able to complete and achieve its traininng activities for the year 2021 and has begin a new military year activities for the year 2022 which was made possible by the zeal and commitment of the officers and men of the Brigade.
The celebration featured colourful display of several traditional and cultural dances from the 6 geopolitical zones, presentation of awards to deserving and outstanding personnel, palatable ethnic and local dishes and raffle draw where several prices were won among others.
The 2021 WASA was earlier sheduled to hold in December 2021 but could not hold due to several engagement and National assignment conducted by the brigade.
