DEFENCE: TRUMP'S EMERGENCE AS PRESIDENT ELECT CAUSES STIR IN MILITARY CIRCLES

GEN OLONISAKIN (CDS)

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, CDS has in the wake of the emergence of Donald J. Trump as the 45^th President-elect of the United States of America (USA), charged the Defence and Intelligence agencies to prepare for uncertain years ahead.

The CDS who was represented by Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Bashir Saidu, Chief of Policy and Plans, Defence Headquarters (DHQ) during the closing ceremony of the 2016 Defence Advisers/Attaches’ Conference
in Abuja, tagged: “Harnessing the Potentials of Defence
Attache System for improved National Security in Nigeria” called on the military and related agencies to brace up for the “uncertainties” brought by the recent political occurrences in the world.

“Recent political events in the global scene have
ushered in a new era of uncertainty. We must therefore
prepare for this new reality with the determination to ensure
that the safety and security of Nigeria. The input of the
Defence section would be especially relevant as we embrace
the future.”

Although, the Defence Chief did not mention the election of
Trump whose pre-election campaign rhetoric have placed world
leaders in alert mode, he however urged that, “the clarity and visibility we hope you will bring from your areas of responsibilities will be critical to our decision making and actions that are aimed at guaranteeing the security, prosperity and vital interest of Nigeria and its people,” he
stated.

CDS Olonisakin however used the occasion to call on the participants, especially the Defence Attaches at the conference to come up with creative ways to project positively, and defend Nigeria’s security interest across the world, charging the military to be prepared to do everything necessary to defend the country’s interest and security within and outside the country.

“The contributions of the defence sector would be vital to the future of the country and its security and peaceful co-existence, promising that DHQ will consider their recommendations”.

“The DHQ will hence take time to study and implement those
decisions taken at this conference that are with its authority.
We will also work with relevant authorities to ensure that the
other decisions are given due considerations and actions
taken”, the top military chief stated.

The Chief of Defence Staff called for an out-of-the box solutions to the emerging security challenges confronting the country
especially terrorism, sabotage of critical facilities and subversion of government’s efforts.

According to Gen. Olonisakin,  “as our nation and the Armed Forces continue to deter and defeat terrorism, sabotage and subversion with a
reasonable degree of success, we must now collectively focus
on ensuring that we do not get to future challenges with past
solutions”.

“Going forward, our military must evolve considerably, its force
projections and responsiveness to emergencies and threats.
That evolution will begin with our ability to attain a qualitative
feat in intelligence and forward thinking”.

“The Defence sector must therefore focus on the strategic
military means of our Armed Forces and contribute effectively
to our collective efforts at ensuring readiness to adequately
and effectively contain the next set of challenges that may
arise.”

Speaking earlier, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), AVM
Mohammed Usman, demanded for intensified efforts at
intelligence gathering against those he described as
“destructive forces in the society”.

Mohammed Usman singled out the DAs to, up the ante in their stipulated role for intelligence within and outside the country for overall national security.

Culled from Thisday