Gen. Lucky Irabor, the recently-retired Chief of Defence Staff, was bid farewell by the Nigerian Armed Forces in a customary military ceremony on Friday. This comes after President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointment of Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff, which marked a change in the Armed Forces’ top-level management.
A customary military ceremony known as the drawing out parade is staged to commemorate the departure from active duty of senior commanders. Following a march-past by the troops and a general’s review of the parade, the retired officer was symbolically withdrawn from the ceremony by senior generals.
Gen. Irabor gave a speech at the celebration in which he expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve the country for 37 years, including the past 29 months as the Chief of Defence Staff. He claimed that the Nigerian Armed Forces had expanded, became stronger, and improved their capacity to carry out their constitutional mandate under his leadership.
Gen. Irabor acknowledged the difficulties of maintaining national security in a big, varied nation like Nigeria and the fluidity of the security environment in 2021. He applauded the Federal Government’s, the Armed Forces’, and other security agencies’ efforts to resolve security issues and improve the national security architecture.
Gen. Irabor expressed confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces as he wrapped off his speech, saying that they are now better prepared to carry out their constitutional mandate and national security duties.
Dignitaries like Sheriff Oborevwori, the governor of Delta State, Boss Mustapha, the permanent secretary of the ministry of defense, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, and the former secretary to the government of the federation, joined the pulling out march. Adm. Ibrahim Ogohi, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, Gen. Alexander Ogomudia, Martin Luther Agwai, and Gabriel Olonisakin were among the past defense commanders in attendance.
The current Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Musa, the Chiefs of the three services, and the recently retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya were among the notable guests. Officers from the military forces, both active duty and retired, also attended the function.
The farewell parade honored Gen. Lucky Irabor’s great career and achievements to the Nigerian Armed Forces in a dignified manner. It underlined the dedication to national security and defense and served as a symbol of the military institution’s durability and continuity as it changes leadership.
