President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged senior
military officers to respect rule of law and human rights in the service to the
nation.
He gave the speech at the graduation of Senior
Course 38 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna.
According to him, the military must uphold highest
standard of conduct vis-a-vis character, integrity, excellence, service and
team work expected of military professionals.
He said: “You must therefore carry along these values
and virtues wherever you find yourself.”
The President, represented by the Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo, said the course had been structured to prepare participants for
command and staff responsibilities in full scale war and other military
operations.
He said: “Some of you might find yourselves operating
with your colleagues from sister African countries.
“As you are conferred with Pass Staff Course, note that
you should now be better officers and commanders.
“Your actions
particularly during ongoing counter insurgency, is crucial and must be guided
by the armed forces procedures or rules of engagement as the case may be.
“I implore you all to guard against all forms of ethnic
and religious sentiments in the discharge of your duties; as these could
compromise the integrity and virtues of this noble profession.
“We remember that the greatest danger to our democracy
and freedom lies in the peril of ethnicity and religious intolerance.
“These evils threaten our very existence as one sovereign
and indivisible nation.”
Buhari congratulated the commandant and the entire staff
of the college for successfully turning out yet another set of graduates.
One hundred and ninety-four officers graduated, with some
from South Korea, Ghana, Niger, Zambia, Gambia and others.
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