Delta State Government Commends Nigerian Army For Professional Conducts

Delta State Government Commends Nigerian Army For Professional Conducts

The Delta state government has lauded the Nigerian Army for the professional comportment of its officers and men during the just concluded general elections.

Acting Delta state governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, who gave the commendation on Wednesday while hosting the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, and other senior officers of the Nigerian Army who paid the state government a courtesy visit, also said the state would continue to partner with army to sustain peace and security in the state.

The COAS had visited the state to pay condolence visits to all stakeholders in the burial programme of former Chief of Army Staff and military governor of defunct Mid-West state, late Gen. David Ejoor.

According to the acting governor, the elections in Delta state, particularly, were peaceful and without much drama because of the discipline and professional outlook the men of the Nigerian Army assumed during the exercise, saying “we want to express satisfaction at the level of professionalism that your men exhibited during the last election. It was commendable”.

He, however, assured the army that the state government would continue to partner with the institution to ensure peace and security in all parts of the state, adding “we take the issue security serious and so we consider our relationship and partnership with the Nigerian Army very seriously”.

Speaking on the reason for the visit, Lt. Gen. Buratai, who had earlier paid condolence visits to the palaces of the Olu of Warri and that of the Ohworode of Olomu in Warri South and Ughelli South council areas respectively, as well as to the immediate family of the departed former army in his country home in Ovwor Olomu, said the death of General Ejoor was a loss, not just to Delta state, but to the Nigerian Army and Nigeria as a nation.

Buratai, while speaking during his visit to the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, had said the army was planning to give a befitting burial to the departed General through a joint planning with the Delta and Edo state governments.

Buratai said the Nigerian Army had constituted a burial committee that would interface with both state governments and the family to ensure a successful and befitting burial for the late former COAS.

“The Nigerian Army has set up a burial committee and we are looking forward to having a befitting burial for late Maj-Gen. Ejoor in conjunction with the Edo and Delta governments. Late Maj- Gen. Ejoor was a professional soldier, loyal and contributed to the development of the country. He served Nigeria diligently,” he said.

In his response, the Olu of Warri thanked the Army Chief for the visit and the role of the military in ensuring peace in the entire Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general.

“There is peace in the country. I appeal that you do not relent in your effort at sustaining the peace. Your officers have been so wonderful, you can establish Brigades in some areas around the riverine where there are government facilities to provide more military presence.

“We held Ejoor at a very high esteem, he stood by us anytime we had challenges, he was important to us. Thank you for coming to condole with us and his family,” the monarch said.

Also receiving the COAS and his entourage at his palace, the Ohworode of Olomu kingdom, HRM Ovie Ogbon Ogoni Oghoro, thanked the army chief for the condolence visit to both the deceased family and Olomu kingdom.

“Your coming at this time of grief is highly appreciated. Thank you for deeming it fit to visit the home of my departed son Ejoor at Ovwor in Olomu kingdom.

“We are proud of Ejoor. As a military governor of the defunct Mid-Western State, Ejoor fought for the unity of Nigeria even when people were agitating for division. There was no case of corruption preferred against him till his demise,” the centenarian monarch said.

Among the COAS entourage were: Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 6 Division, Port Harcourt; the Commander, Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Col. Baba Manu, among others.