Adekeye Urges Officers To Stop Blackmail Of Navy

Chris Agbambu, Abuja - 05.01.2008

THE Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ganiyu Adekeye, has admonished newly-promoted admirals in the Navy to rise up to the challenge of checking external pressure, blackmail and falsehood that have continually been peddled in the public domain against the Navy.

Speaking after decorating newly-promoted nine Real Admirals and 13 Commodores in Abuja on Friday, Adekeye said they must see themselves as part of the leadership having risen to this level.

He said every negative imputation they send out against the service would amount to their shooting their own foot.

He said that as there were rewards for dedicated service, so are there also sanctions for lapses or outright failure.

He said that a system that did not apply these two measures would not survive for long.

Adekeye disclosed that nine Commodores were promoted to Real Admirals, 32 captains to commodores, 86 commodores to captains and 73 Lieutenants to commanders.

He thanked President Umaru Yar’Adua and the Navy board for graciously approving the promotions.

The CNS said, “The promotions we are celebrating today are part of such policies and programmes.

“You are leading vehicles for the Navy’s transformation and the effort to reposition her to meet emerging challenges.

“These challenges include upholding the tenets of democracy and the rule of law, safeguarding and protecting the nation’s maritime resources that are continuously being threatened and support for external security as well as the fight against domestic and international terrorism.”