(L-R) Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, General Officer Commanding, the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Felix Agugo and Chief Ikenna Okafor at the 2019 WASA event at the Division Headquarters, Port Harcourt
…Donates N100m to Nigerian Army
From Blessing Ibunge, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Barr Nyesom Wike has commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai and the General Officer Commanding, GOC, the 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major-General Agugo, for the operational successes they recorded in 2019.
Wike particularly attributed the reduction of criminal activities in Rivers to the professionalism exhibited by the GOC, 6 Division and the Garrison Commander.
This as the Governor announced the donation of N100million to the Nigerian Army at the Division, a way to support the efforts of the officers and soldiers in the current peace experienced in the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, at the Division’s West African Social Activities (WASA) 2019 in Port Harcourt, promised more support for the Division, if the personnel maintain professionalism.
He noted: “Let me congratulate the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major Gen. Felix Agugo and all of you for the operational successes that you achieved in 2019.
“I wish to particularly commend the headquarters 6 Division and all military formations in Rivers State. The Governor has asked me to particularly commend the GOC, all the military and security agencies for your efforts in fighting every form of criminality in Rivers state; particularly kidnapping, Armed robbery, oil bunkering etc. He has asked me to commend you and to particularly let you know the GOC, that he is very pleased and very impressed with you, your other commanders, with the way and manner you have carried on since you arrived in Rivers State.
“In fact any keen observer will observe that since your arrival, being the most senior military officer in this state, although your jurisdiction covers more than this state, but since your arrival, the spate of crime in this state has reduced. And the Governor believes that it is because of your professional discipline that we are witnessing the improvement in security.
“We are very grateful that you are leading all the military officers both in the Nigeiran Army, the Navy, Airforce and others. You have shown that professionalism is the way to go. I want to on behalf of the governor tell you that we particularly appreciate you and we urge you and all your officers and men to keep it up.
“The Governor has asked that I should let you know because of this new phase of professionalism that he is safe with you, with the military in Rivers State, that you should always count on the government to support you in whatever way possible. If you face your job professionally, the government will also do our own part to ensure that whatever government can do, whatever the generality of Rivers populace can do to ensure that you succeed in your task will be done. It is on that note he has asked me to support you at least for a start in this activities of supporting your men, wives, children, families and officers of men with the sum of a Hundred Million Naira (N100million)”.
Earlier in his opening speech, the GOC, commended the Governor Nyesom Wike-led government and Rivers people for the successes recorded in Rivers State in 2019.
Major-General Felix Agugo, who noted that the 6 Division covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States, said despite the 6 Division being a young division, the feat it recorded last year was through Rivers State government’s support and the synergy it has with other security agencies.
He explained that the WASA event ushered the Army into an operational year and also afforded the soldiers and their families, an opportunity to wine and dine for the successes they recorded last year.
Also, he said WASA event was their (Army) moment of rededication to the loyalty and integrity they have for the Chief of Army Staff and service.
In his words, Maj Gen Felix Agugo said: “I want to express my gratitude on behalf of all the officers and soldiers of 6 Division, Garrison, 39 Battalion and all other affiliated formations and units that are located here in Rivers State. We welcome everyone here to our year 2019 West African Social Activities, WASA. Somebody may wonder why in 2020 I am referring to 2019, it is because WASA marks and celebrates our successes in the previous year and also gives us the required impetus through the offerings of the rituals and sacrifices or prayers for us to do well in the current year.
“So this WASA ushers us into a new and operation year which is this year 2020. As you can see, it also gives us a very royal opportunity to also meet with our families and friends to celebrate whatever successes that we have achieved in the passing year.
“Talking about our successes, I want to note that 6 Division has its Area of Responsibility, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta state. But we need to understand that 6 Division is the young division that is yet to be fully established like the others, what we have now is that the majority of our already established and operationalised formations and units are located within Rivers State, of course the headquarters of 6 Division is in Rivers State.
“When we celebrate our success, we actually celebrate also the success of security operations in Rivers State and it is with this sense of gratitude that I want to say that we are very grateful to His Excellency the Executive Governor of Rivers state and the people of Rivers State for the support we have received that has enabled us to celebrate our operational successes in the year 2019.
“Also we are grateful to all the other security agencies who in our constitutional role of providing aide as a symbol of authority have worked with us, cooperated with us to achieve our operational success.
“Let me finally express the gratitude of 6 Division to my officers and soldiers and indeed our families, to the Chief of Army Staff who have given us the necessary direction, necessary support and logistics to do all that we are able to do in the passing year. We want to also rededicate ourselves to do in every way our loyalty to the Commander in Chief of the Arm Forces”, Agugo added.
