*FG has approved relocation of Army 8 Division to Sokoto – Buratai
By Kemi Kasumu
Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, (NSCIA) Alhaji, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III on Sunday commended the Nigeria security for its sustained determination towards restoring unhindered peace to the nation.
The Sultan, who admonished Nigerian security not to be deterred by negative public comments in its course of securing the country, reminded them that, such comments were part of the challenges that accompanied success.
Receiving the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. General, Yusuf Tukur Buratai, who paid him a condolence visit on the death of 18th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar assured the Army chief of traditional leaders continued support for the Nigerian security.
His words: “We will continue to support you in the interest of the country. Therefore, we urged you never to be distracted hence the more you succeed, the more challenges you are likely to face.”
While reminding them that managing human being was one of the most difficult task, the Sultan, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Nigerian Council of Traditional Rulers, advised his guest to also note that Nigeria was a difficult society beyond what many thought.
Bearing this in mind, Sultan admonished the Nigerian Army to sustain its collective struggle towards restoring peace to all troubled parts of the country, especially in the North East.
He went further to say that, “We sincerely commend your remarkable success and efforts at restoring peace and hope in the lives of people of the North East.
“We have been following things and wish to express our satisfaction with the changes.
“We will rally the Federal Government’s support to continue to equip you for your strategic operations and responsibilities of protecting the territorial boundaries of the country.
“We should put heads and hands together as stakeholders to ensure peaceful co-existence, promote security and safety of lives and property of citizens,” he added.
Recalling the personality of late Ibrahim Dasuki, Sultan said Dasuki had left behind a commendable legacies of wisdom hence he deserved the prayers of Nigerians.
Earlier, the Cheif of Army Staff, Lt. General Buratai, who was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding, One Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Major General A. Oyebade, described the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki as a pillar whose remarkable contributions to public reforms especially in the Local Governments service remained unique in the general administration and security of the country.
On Army’s effort towards enhancing security in the zone, Buratai disclosed that the Federal Government had approved the relocation of Nigerian Army 8 Division to Sokoto.
According to him, the Division has been operating in Borno but has to be relocated to Sokoto as parts of the FG’s commitment to addressing security challenges in the zone.
