Jonathan: Nigeria Military, Deserves Commendation

Jonathan: Nigeria Military, Deserves Commendation

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said the Nigerian military deserved commendation for its apolitical roles.

The president spoke when he received a cheque of N1m from Mr. Dotun Oyetunde, in support of the nation's armed forces, shortly before the Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa went into a closed-door.

"We must continue to commend men of the Nigerian armed forces. A nation must honour men of its armed forces.

"All the nations that we emulate and build our democracy after do not insult their military.

"They must be appreciated and insulated from politics. I feel bad when leaders rope military into our day to day political activities. That is reckless.

"These men stay in the rain while we are under roofs.  They stay awake for us to sleep well," Jonathan said.

The president called on all Nigerians to lend teir support to Nigeria's troops by donating bot in cash and kind to them.

Jonathan stressed that such support could be routed through the Chief of Defence Staff, National Security Adviser or the Minister of Defence.

Oyetunde however said both him and his wife were touched by the plight of the troops while engaging in battle with the Islamist terrorists group, Boko Haram sect.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who introduced the donor, told Jonathan about various donations such as drugs, bags of rice and cartons of instant noodles, that the military had been receiving.

He said when he received Oyetunde's message, he discussed with the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), who suggested that the donor should be brought to personally present the cheque to Jonathan during the meeting.

Source: This Day Live