Igwe Dennis Ezebuilo, the Igwe-elect of Amanuke Kingdom, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra, has lauded the Nigerian Army over the promotion Charles Ekulide to the rank of Brig.-General.

Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai looks on at the headquaters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Borno State in northcentral Nigeria, on October 4, 2017.
The United Kingdom is providing expert training to the Nigerian military in helping to develop the skills necessary to tackle the terror threat of Boko Haram in North East Nigeria. Boko Haram’s Islamist insurgency began in 2009 and has killed at least 20,000 and forced more than 2.6 million from their homes. / AFP

Ezebuilo said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday that Ekulide was the first person in his kingdom to attain such height in the Nigerian Army.

It will be recall that on Nov. 20, 45 senior officers from the rank of brigadier general were promoted to the rank of major generals by the Nigerian Army Council

Also, 92 officers were elevated from the rank of colonel to the rank of brigadier general, bringing a total of officers promoted to 137.

The traditional ruler, therefore, said that the promotion would contribute significantly to the restoration of the people’s confidence in the Nigerian Army.

“The people of Amanuke Kingdom appreciate the Nigerian military for counting one of our own worthy of the rank of a brigadier general,’’ he said.

He commended the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption, saying that the enabling environment created by the President made such a feat possible.

He described Ekulide as a worthy son of Amanuke Kingdom considering his immense contribution to peaceful coexistence among the people of the area and the security of lives and property in the community.

He stated that the promotion is a testimony that the Nigerian Army under President Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Turkur Buratai, now promotes hard work and meritorious service in the rank and file of the armed forces.

The traditional ruler added that the promotion would further boost morale in the army in its relentless fight against insurgency in the country.

He urged the army not to rest on its oars in securing the country and promoting national unity through the promotion of deserving officers and men of the armed forces regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

NAN