Steer clear of election duty, GOC 8 division warns soldiers

The newly-deployed General Officer Commander of the 8 Division, Nigeria Army in Sokoto, Major General Hakeem Otiki has warned men and officers of the division to steer clear of the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections rerun in the state.

He warned the officers of the division not to get involved in the electoral process without taking approval from him, saying whoever does so will find him/herself to be blamed.

The GOC disclosed this when the outgoing GOC, Major General Stevenson Olabanji who has been transferred to infantry was handing over the 8 Division to Otiki at the Kalambaina headquarters in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He reaffirmed that any officer found in the town during the elections without his approval will be taken to Abuja for further explanation.

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Meanwhile, Major General Otiki has commended the outgoing GOC of the eight division, who he described as a brother and friend as a diligent and hard-working officer.

According to him, “I commend my brother, Major General Stevenson Olabanji for setting up of this structure from the foundation level to what we are seeing today.

“I called on the junior officers to forgive him in whatever decision he might have taken against them in the cause of his duty as the GOC.

“I am using this medium to assure you that you are leaving wonderful staff with me, I am promising to do the same when I am leaving,” he stated.

The GOC further charged everyone to continue to be disciplined, which he also described as a major content of Muslim and Christian religion.

“We are not here just for jamboree or merrymaking. We are here to make people under this division live in peace and sleep with their two eyes closed.

“Sharan Daji must not be allowed to spread to Sokoto, we must work hard to chase all the bandits and criminals from their hideout,” he vowed.