Nigeria's former Service Chiefs has officially handed over the mantle of leadership to their successors who were recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

‪‪Speaking at the handing and taking over ceremony between the outgoing and incoming  Chief of Defence Staff,(CDS) in Abuja, the former chief of defence staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, charged his successor Air marshal Alex Badeh to consolidate on past success and discharge his duty with honor and integrity.

‪‪Responding, the new CDS pledged his commitment to ensure that the Nigeria Armed forces is well guided. It was an epoch making ceremony after-all, it marks end to successful military career.

However, the presence of senior officers and their family members was evident that the retiring military bosses had no dent during their service years. The former chief of defence staff, admiral Ibrahim in his usual way admonished his successor to employ professionalism to keep the military flag flying while his successor pledged to sustain the tempo of fight against terrorism. He vowed to stamp out insurgency within six months

At different formations of the military, former service chiefs worried that duties ahead of their successors are challenging but were confident in the abilities of their successors to sustain the transformation of the military, particularly the success so far achieved in the war against terrorism. From the Army, navy and to the Airforce headquarters, it was change in authority and advise on how to forge ahead, he added.

And pledging their loyalty to the nation and readiness to fulfill their constitutional roles, the new helms men agree to work together to face contemporary challenges.

They have taken over and what is remaining is to be decorated with the new ranks befitting their new positions. While the chief of defence staff Air Marshall Alex Badeh would be decorated with the new rank of air chief Marshall as the highest ranking officer in the Nigeria’s military. Major general Jacob minimah rear admiral usman jibril and air vice marshall nunayo Amosun would be decorated by the president with the ranks of lieutenant general, vice admiral and air marshall respectively.

Correspondent: Nnabuchi Okey. Abuja