Members of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s (NDA) 50 Regular Course have reaffirmed their allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Nigerian government.
On Saturday, Col. Abba Umar, Chairman of the 50th Regular Course Cooperative, provided the assurance at a fitness activity to commemorate the 20th Anniversary/Reunion in Abuja.
The group has planned events to mark the 20 years since their release from NDA, including the workout session that took place in the Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment Sports Arena in Asokoro.
According to Umar, the reunion was their first in 20 years since they left the NDA, and they decided to invite their families in order to strengthen their bonds with one another.
“We are reiterating our allegiance to the Nigerian government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
We are soldiers, and it is our first responsibility to swear allegiance to the Commander-in-Chief and to the states of Nigeria, he stated.
According to Umar, the occasion gave them a chance to rekindle their professional relationships, as well as bring their families and kids together, develop friendships, and support one another out in the future.
“It has been a long 20 years, and throughout the struggle to protect this vital nation, we also lost several of our comrades.
He stated, “This is a moment for us to officially honour and appreciate them for what they have done for this wonderful nation by bringing their families and children.
According to Umar, the association has made sure that the families of their departed coworkers are supported and cared for, and the organisation typically gets in touch with them on Armed Forces Remembrance Day each year.
He claimed that the group had been getting together frequently when taking classes at the National Defence College or the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and he added that ever since they left the NDA, they had never had enough time to connect.
“So, we received permission for us to host this reunion so that everyone who isn’t engaged right now may get together and make this celebration vibrant.
“When we first enrolled in NDA 25 years ago, there were about 191 of us. However, along the way, some students were unable to complete the programme, and there were only 141 of us who finished.
“Along the line, some departed as Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel levels; sadly, nine of them were lost.
We presently have five Lieutenant Colonels and about 50 Colonels in the army. We have roughly 27 to 28 Group captains and two Squadron Leaders in the Air Force, and we have three Navy captains and one commander in equal numbers, he said.
Additionally, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, a member of the organising committee, said that the reunion was significant to them because their group is responsible for carrying out the majority of the ongoing operations across the nation.
He claimed that once the insurgency began, they had to respond to the clarion call as their service grew.
Likewise, Group Captain Jubril Mamman of the Nigerian Air Force stated that as they advance in their careers, they must integrate and perform better.
“We hope that these bonds will last for a long time to come,” he said. “As we are bonding, we are bonding ourselves, and we are bonding our families.”
Retired Lt.-Commander Ibrahim Baba-Inna, a participant in the course, expressed gratitude to God for bringing them together after 20 years and noted that some of those who left the service are succeeding in their various undertakings.
The gathering was all about bonding because some of them hadn’t seen each other since their high school years, according to Baba-Inna, who ran for governor of Adamawa in the most recent general election.
“That is why we’re enjoying this reunion; many of us have moved on, but some of our coworkers have travelled from abroad to attend our reunion.
“So many of our retired coworkers are involved in various enterprises. Others work in the real estate industry or as bankers.
“Since a lot has been going on, this reunion gives us a chance to get together and build relationships because even if we are aware of ourselves, we still need to get to know our families and children on a deeper level.
The head of an NGO that assists military veterans, Baba-Inna, claimed that he had continued to fight for the welfare of veterans and widows of fallen heroes.
He praised the Military Pension Board for paying benefits on time while urging the government to do more to improve their welfare. (NAN)
