Home / News / Local / Buhari decorates newly promoted Commander, Brigade of Guards; Personnel celebrate promotion
President Buhari with Maj. Gen. MT Usman and Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Farouq Yahaya as he decorates Guards Brigade Commander M.T. Usman to his New Rank of Major General in State House on 28th Dec 2022

Buhari decorates newly promoted Commander, Brigade of Guards; Personnel celebrate promotion

President Buhari assisted by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya and the wife of the Commander, Dr Rekiya Usman as he decorates the Guards Brigade Commander, M.T. Usman with his new rank of Major General in State House on 28th Dec 2022

 

By Ismaila Chafe/Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Dec. 28, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday heaped praises on the newly promoted Commander, Brigade of Guards, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Usman.

He described him as an outstanding officer who is serving the nation with great zeal.

The President, assisted by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya and the wife of the Commander, Dr Rekiya Usman, decorated the officer with the rank of Major-General.

Speaking shortly after the ceremony in the Presidential Villa, the President recalled his tumultuous military career marked with coups, counter-coups and detention.

He described Usman as a very lucky officer to have risen to the height of his military career with distinction and without hiccups.

He also commended him for his diligence, loyalty, patience and hardwork.

‘‘You are very lucky to have the health and ability to carry out your assignments.

‘‘Those who work with me know I am very difficult to satisfy. But I have never had any reason, whatsoever, to report you to the Chief of Army Staff or the Minister of Defence.

‘‘Nobody has been able to touch me while you are here, I’m absolutely satisfied with your performance,’’ he said.

According to the president, he will give the directive on Major-General Usman’s next assignment, considering that he too is about to leave, and as he has often said ‘‘I will live far away from Abuja.’’

Buhari commended the family of the military officer for their patience in putting up with the challenging assignment he carries out with great aptitude and steadfastness.

In his remarks, Usman thanked the president for his outstanding support to the Brigade of Guards.

He cited the approval for the procurement of 400 armoured vehicles, which he said were enough to secure his area of responsibility including the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State and parts of Niger State.

He expressed happiness with the president for the promotion, saying that it would spur him to do even better in his assigned responsibilities.

Meanwhile, officers and personnel of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army on Wednesday celebrated their Commander, Maj.-Gen.  Usman, over his decoration with his new rank by President Buhari.

Usman is one of the 52 Brigadier Generals that were elevated to the rank of Major General by the Army Council recently.

While 51 others were decorated with their new ranks on Dec. 23 by the military high command, the Commander, Guards Brigade, was left to be decorated by the President being the Chief of the elite Guard of the Commander-in-Chief.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Guards Brigade, Capt. Godfrey Abakpa made this known in a statement in Abuja.

Abakpa said the Brigade Chief of Staff, Col. Oludele Oyegoke, alongside Unit Commanders and other Staff officers congratulated the Commander for his well-deserved promotion and subsequent decoration.

According to him, the chief of staff said the promotion and decoration of the commander was evidence of his exceptional performance in leading the Brigade in all its assigned responsibilities.

“The senior officers further appreciated the Commander whom they described as a hard worker, astute leader and administrator.

“The Spiritual leaders of the Brigade also seized the opportunity to pray for better and greater fortune upon the Commander and his family as he wears his new rank with more responsibility.”

Responding, the Commander, Maj.-Gen. Usman appreciated the officers and personnel of the brigade for their untiring efforts in securing the entire brigade’s Area of Responsibility.

Usman said the FCT and part of Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna States which formed part of the brigade’s area of responsibility had been well defended and secured.

He said that he would not have been promoted without the collective contribution of the various units and their personnel under the command whose individual effort made him successful.

The commander also expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity given him to serve and the Chief of Army Staff for his guidance at all times and pledged to be more committed to his duties.

He urged all officers and men to continue to do their best as every effort counts.

He also prayed for those expecting their promotions not to lose hope as it’s only God that gives.

High point of the celebration was the presentation and cutting of cake as well as group photographs.

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