President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged senior military officers to respect rule of law and human rights in the service to the nation.
The President made the call at the graduation of Senior Course 38 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna.
According to him, the military must uphold highest standard of conduct vis-a-vis character, integrity, excellence, service and team work expected of military professionals.
“You must therefore carry along these values and virtues wherever you find yourself.’’
The President, represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the course had been structured to prepare participants for command and staff responsibilities in full scale war and other military operations.
“Some of you might find yourselves operating with your colleagues from sister African countries.
“As you are conferred with Pass Staff Course (PSC), note that you should now be better officers and commanders.
“Your actions particularly during ongoing counter insurgency, is crucial and must be guided by the armed forces procedures or rules of engagement as the case may be.
“I implore you all to guard against all forms of ethnic and religious sentiments in the discharge of your duties; as these could compromise the integrity and virtues of this noble profession.
“We remember that the greatest danger to our democracy and freedom lies in the peril of ethnicism and religious intolerance.
“These evils threaten our very existence as one sovereign and indivisible nation”, the President said.
Buhari congratulated the commandant and the entire staff of the college for successfully turning out yet another batch of graduands.
One hundred and ninety four officers graduated, with some from South Korea, Ghana, Niger, Zambia, Gambia and others.
