Lessons you must learn from your predecessors, Gen. Olanrewaju tells new service chiefs

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

“These Commanders have to show leadership, commitment communication and determination. The security challenges and other internal security in the country will tax these Commanders robustness energy and they have no time to waste. The nation is going to kneel on their necks.”

Nigeria’s former Minister Communications, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), has applauded the appointment of new service chiefs for the nation’s armed forces by President Muhammadu Buhari but not without a piece of advice for the new military top officers.

Olanrewaju, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC), Third Armoured Division if the Nigerian Army, noted that their coming was happening at a time the war against Boko Haram requires infusion of new tactics, urging them to learn from the counterterrorism campaign of their predecessors.

In a comet he sent to The DEFENDER on Wednesday, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd) said:

“The new Service Chiefs are coming in at this auspicious moment when the NE battlefield seems to be in a state of no motion. They need to learn some lessons from the counterinsurgency campaign of the removed Service Chiefs.

“The Boko Haram had survived mainly through the timely use of intelligence and applications of concentration of forces in attacking our military forces.

“The new helmsmen must develop new thinking into the next counterinsurgency aiming to destroy the backbone of Boko Haram’s logistic system and intelligence, denying them mobility. The military could improve its professionalism by upending the troops morale and increasing its capabilities to be proactively engaging the insurgents.

“The Armed forces have recently upgraded their assets and they can use them in a combination of tactical engagements and. tactical support measures.

“In particular they can the air assets in support of ground operations not operating separately.

“Finally the Armed forces must beef up their strength and achieve a superior ratio in any battlefield operation. This time around, they should be more offensive than defensive but they cannot win this war without adequate men under arms.

“These Commanders have to show leadership, commitment communication and determination.

“The security challenges and other internal security in the country will tax these Commanders robustness energy and they have no time to waste. The nation is going to kneel on their necks.

“In particular they can use the air assets in support……., and achieve a superiority ratio…..,” General Olanrewaju said.