Immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), said he is leaving office with a clear conscience after faithfully serving Nigeria.
Musa made the remark on Friday during his pull-out parade in Abuja, ending nearly four decades in the Armed Forces. He said he gave his best to the fight against insecurity and served with accountability and dedication.
“As I hang my uniform today, I do so with a clear conscience, knowing that I gave my all,” he said. “I leave with cherished memories of camaraderie, of battles fought and triumphs celebrated as one family. The sound of the bugle may change for me, but the soldier’s heart beats on forever.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing him Chief of Defence Staff, calling it a rare honour. Musa pledged loyalty to Tinubu and Nigeria after retirement, saying his passion for the country remains strong.
“I might be retiring from active military service today, but I’m by no means retiring from my love for our dear country, Nigeria,” he said. “I remain a soldier at heart and a patriot ever loyal to the constitution and sovereignty of our great nation.”
The retired general said security and intelligence agencies must collaborate because the military alone cannot end insecurity. He urged Nigerians to keep praying for troops, noting that the progress achieved resulted from a collective effort.
“There is no single institution that can win this war alone,” Musa said. “We must synergize, collaborate, and fight together. I appeal to all Nigerians to pray for our troops and security forces so that we can win, and together, we shall succeed.”
Musa congratulated his successor, General Olufemi Oluyede, and urged officers to show him the same loyalty. He thanked his family, calling them “unsung heroes” who supported him through years of service and sacrifice.
He further appreciated the media and other security agencies for supporting the military during his leadership.
President Bola Tinubu appointed General Musa Chief of Defence Staff on June 19, 2023, in a security shake-up. His exit came as General Oluyede formally assumed office as the new Chief of Defence Staff on Thursday.
