Oborevwori, Okowa praised the ex-Chief of Defence Staff, General Irabor during grand reception in Ika
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Saturday in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta state, eulogized the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, CFR (rtd) for his brilliant and successful military career.
Speaking at the grand reception organized by the Ika nation in honour of the retired Chief of Defence Staf, the Governor commended the unity of the Ika people and urged other ethnic nationalities to emulate the Ika nation in honouring their own to encourage them to do more for the state and country.
He said, “We are here to celebrate with one of our own, the finest Army General on this reception organized by the Ika nation to welcome our dear General back home. The beauty about this celebration is when your people honour you and the Ika nation organized this hosting because they are united.
“As Governor, our duty is to continue to encourage other ethnic nationalities to continue to be united in hosting their own to spur them to do more for the state and country.
“A lot has been said about our brother, General Irabor. As Speaker in the 7th Assembly, I am aware of the lot he did even when he was about retiring he was upgraded and made Chief of Defence Staff.
“To have risen to the top echelon of military career is by the grace of God, it is not by his strength but he is destined for that position and he has done very well as a brilliant officer.
“General Irabor is someone that has the passion to serve, he is committed and very focused in all he does and am very sure that his successor, Maj. Gen. C.G. Musa whom I know very well for almost two decades will also do well, I know that with him in charge of the armed forces more peace will come to this nation.
“At your pull out ceremony a lot of serving and retired Generals were there to honour you for the good works you did in the area of security of our nation.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you for an illustrious career in the military and as we welcome you back home, I congratulate Deltans and the Ika nation for giving us a great man like you”.
Speaking further, the immediate past Governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in his remarks, said Gen. Irabor did a lot for the peace and security of the country.
“I thank God that our people have deemed it necessary by organizing this befitting reception for you. You are worthy of it all because we know what you did for our country, Nigeria.
“Listening to the testaments here, we are even more proud as Ika nation than we were before. Obviously, you rose as a compatriot to obey Nigeria’s call to serve our father land and our father land you have served with all your strength believing in Nigeria.
“You served with heart and might, the true wording of our national anthem and you have kept faith with this nation and you have made each and everyone of us proud.
“I am particularly very proud to associate with you and welcoming you back home today, we are truly very grateful that God led you through these 37 years and has brought you back home strong and healthy and your wife and children strong and healthy,”
The erstwhile Chief of the Defense Staff, asserted that the peace of the nation was guaranteed with the appointment of Gen. Musa and the new Service Chiefs.
“I am glad that your pedigree is well known and I am happy that no other person was chosen to be the chief of defence staff at this time. Let me use this opportunity to assure the nation that with CG Musa as CDS we certainly are well pleased and the security and defence of our nation is in good hands.
“The growth and development of the armed forces is in good hands and so be rest assured that Musa along with his team of service chiefs will do the best to ensure that they increase or escalate the approaches that we have established to ensure that within our nation that there will be no problem of insecurity”, General Irabor said.
The reception, was attended by serving and retired generals led by the CDS, Major-General Musa, accompanied by his wife, former defence and army chiefs including General Alex Ogomudia, Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Chairman of Thisday/Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Nduka Irabor, the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Obi of Owa, Dr Emmanuel Efeziormor, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Senator Uche Ekwunife among others.
General Irabor thanked the Ika nation for the honour done him and his family, adding that he would remained grateful to the Nigerian military for the opportunity to serve the nation.
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