A Rich Military Tradition
Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the retirement of the immediate past Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the 20th indigenous CNS in the long line of Naval Icons, was an ample opportunity for the navy to showcase their long standing tradition in the most colourful parade
If there is any institution which adheres to tradition no matter how long ago it was established, it is the military. Tradition they say never dies and that particularly holds true for the military. The Nigerian Navy, one of the tripod arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces, is not an exception.
For them, instead of tradition being deemed as archaic and outdated, these customs and traditions are seen as an anchor to their past, constantly reminding them of where they have been, where they are now and where they hope to be. It would therefore be safe to say that the very tapestry or fabrics that holds the military together is its customs and traditions.
Even though those traditions might not be understood by civilians, because of what they deem excessive regimentation, for the military, those same traditions are their heritage, even as they seek to align themselves with contemporary modern day structures and practices.
Thus, the observance of the customs and traditions of the military is an integral part of their way of life because a well defined and strong military built on past traditions is germane to its growth. One of such traditions is the pulling/ sailing out ceremony of its Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) to join the long list of past Icons of the Navy.
Past Icons of the Navy
Often referred to as Icons of the Navy, the
past list of of CNS since the inception of the NN includes Captain FW Skutil, who was CNS from 1956 to 1958 and Commodore AR Kennedy who held the helm of affairs from 1958 to 1964. Others were Vice Commodore JEA Wey from 1964 to 1973; Vice Admira NB Soroh, from 1973 to 1975 and Vice Admiral
MA Adelanwa from 1975 to 1980.
Not left out were Vice Admiral AA Aduwo from 1980 to 1893; Vice Admiral AA Aikhomu from 1984 to 1986; Vice Admiral Patrick Koshini from 1986 to 1990; Vice Admirak Murtala Nyako from 1990 to 1992; Vice Admiral DPE Omotsola from 1992 to 1993; Rear Admiral
S. Sa'idu who was appointed in 1993 and removed same year.
Others after this include Rear Admiral AA Madueke from 1993 to 1994; Rear Admiral OM Akhigbe from 1994 to 1998; Vice Admiral J. Ayinla from 1998 to 1999; Vice Admiral VK Ombu from 1999 to 2001; Vice Admiral SO Afoloyan from 2001 to 2005; Vice Admiral GTA Adekeye from 2005 to 2008 and Vice Admiral II Ibrahim from 2008 to 2010.
Ibrahim was succeeded by Vice Admiral OS Ibrahim from 2010 to 2012; Vice Admiral DJ Ezeoba took over in 2012 and handed over to Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin in 2013. In 2015, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas took over as the 20th indigenous Chief of the Naval Staff and in 2021 handed over to Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, who would soon be decorated as a Vice Admiral.
Change of Baton
Prior to the sailing out, there was a handing and taking over ceremony at the headquarters in Abuja. For Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd), after spending five and half years at the helm of affairs of the NN, it was time to say goodbye.
The occasion was heralded by a ceremonial quarter guard. Following tradition, the handing and taking over ceremony was observed as well as the valedictory and inaugural speech by the outgone CNS and his predecessor. The former also adorned the latter with the
Admiralty Medal. The Admiral’s Distinguishing Flag tradition was also observed at the end of the handing/taking over ceremony.
Pulling Out Parade
So, it was in line with naval traditions, that they recently rolled out the drums and celebrated their own and the immediate past CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd.). In a very traditional pulling/sailing out ceremony, Ibas was retired after having served the nation for five years, six months and 13 days as the 20th indigenous Chief of Naval Staff.
The pulling-out-parade, which is a traditional military ceremony to mark officers’ retirement from service, is often held with pomp and pageantry. This recent one was no different. Hosted by the new CNS, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, the former navy chief was pulled out of the NN after he was retired by President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, 2021.
At the pulling/sailing out parade proper, the quarter guard was stationed at the gate of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC). Immediately the new CNS drove in, he went on to inspect the quarter guard after taking the salute- another military tradition.
Soon afterwards, Ibas arrived and repeated the same process. Escorted by Gambo and other senior officers, he marched on to mount the Dias at the parade ground, a square piece of ground revered by all since it's supposedly soaked with the blood of the fallen heroes, of NNS QUORRA to take another salute while the navy band piped.
He soon went on to review and inspect the parade mounted in his honour. This soon gave way for the parade march past led by the parade commander. Afterwhich, Ibas went on to read his valedictory speech and say farewell to officers and men of the Nigerian Navy.
He also took out time to appreciate his fellow chiefs (the class of 2015) which includes former Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai; and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The colourful ceremony was attended by who-is-who in the military-both retired and serving, senior paramilitary personnel, captains of industries, traditional rulers and representatives of governors and some legislators.
In the honour of the past CNS, a compendium was unveiled, containing all the past achievements of Ibas in the last five years. The new CNS also presented him a telescope. This segment was rounded off with group photographs.
Valedictory Remarks
For a man whose humble beginnings started from dreaming of being a doctor, then a pilot, providence saw him joining the military, where he was recruited to join the navy, Ibas said his emergence was solely by the grace of God whom in His infinite mercies wills and gives power to whom He so desires.
In his valedictory remarks he said expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of over 40 years of a journey that culminated into this farewell ceremony and pulling out parade.
He said: “Today must without doubt pass as one of the most important days of my life. But the story of today actually dates back several years ago when fate brought me into an encounter with destiny. I consider my story remarkable because military service was for me not even a distant thought as a career; that expectation belonged to my hopes to become a medical doctor, and much later into my teenage years that gave way to the desire to be a pilot.
“However, the pull of destiny won me over when I casually processed the NDA entry and even then, the choice of the navy as the arm of service only came later to replace the continuation of my early love for flying in the NAF. Now, with the benefit of my experience from my initial ambitions, I consider my achievements incredibly unexpected and therefore justifiably gladdening and filled with satisfaction.
“Without bias to the critical role of other services and agencies in the tasks of nation building, I found the navy as my platform of service particularly interesting. There is clearly a sense of honor and feeling of accomplishment in the knowledge that our navy, in which we serve, is proven to be the only arm of service with a directlink with the nation’s economic lifeline, upon which the well-being of the citizens delicately rests.
“The huge dependence of Nigeria on its maritime resources is a fact of our life. Thus, Nigeria’s maritime environment is strategic to her national survival, the prosperity of her people and the maintenance of her superiority in the comity of nations.
“It is however regrettable that several potential threats continue to hinder the peaceful harvest of these resources and the Nigerian State rely on you to fully reinstate order. In this sincere mandate, you have only one true option of full, unwavering, undivided and single-minded commitment, for you to be seen to have performed your duty. In committing to this article of faith with you, the nation on its part has continued to put at its forefront providing for the service.”
Looking back at his achievements as the CNS he said, "Time will not permit me to do justice to the record of support in my tenure alone, but let me at least attempt a highlight in recalling in the area of fleet renewal, the massive procurement of platforms from OPVs, SDB, FPBs, IPCs, RHIBs and RPBs to helicopters, with a lot more including LST, training ship, survey ship and UAVs either underway to Nigeria for delivery or at advanced stage of building.
“The service also prioritised force protection like never before, by purchasing large quantities of ordnance and seriously strengthened their storage by widespread supply of standard amouries and strict accountability.
“I make bold to also state that some achievements were also recorded in the areas of operational and administrative infrastructure delivery, logistics as well as human resource management and administration. We sustained and expanded maritime domain awareness facility. We also successfully carried out infrastructural development in some of our locations.
“These include upgrade of Naval Shipyard, construction of NNS BEECROFT jetty, completion of a second NN reference hospital, a world-class trauma centre at Calabar and the construction of a standard sports stadium in Navy Town, Ojo. Extensive infrastructural creation for the take-off of the Admiralty University, Ibusa, Delta State was also carried out leading to the licensing of the university and its formal commencement of academic activities, now into the third year running.
“A great number of personnel accommodations was constructed and or renovated, associated facilities refurbished and utilities restored and strengthened across the breath and length of the country. The NN was also able to make a commendable breakthrough in R&D, developing compressed earth bricks to deliver quality houses at unbelievable rates.
“Similarly, a grand plan was created for the effective manning of NN platforms by making bold investments in human capital training to increase its control and quality. In this regard, the training environment was generally upgraded, training content reorganised and several aids including computer simulations were inducted.
“The effective maintenance of these assets was also taken in our consideration, with the expansion of repair capacity, numerous docking and major overhauls and acquisition of heightened maintenance skills to manufacturer’s levels.
“As it is said “to whom much is given, much is expected” which is why in the last 66 months, together with you, i.e. from the PSOs, Commanders at various levels, officers, men and civilian staff we had committed to this role put before us to take apart the networks of criminalities in the form of piracy, sea robbery, illegal bunkering, crude oil theft, operation of illegal refineries, kidnapping, hijack, injurious trafficking, environmental abuse and several other infringements and infractions in our maritime domain.
“And with the grace of Almighty God, we have apprehended a great number of perpetrators, confiscated the equipment of their dishonourabletrade, saved the nation incalculable losses, ensured reliable prosecution for crimes and in the process drastically reduced the impact of their unpatriotic and ungodly acts.
“Dear colleagues, the returned opinion is that you have done exceedingly well in the past but you can do better. I therefore urge you to rededicate yourselves to your tasks and responsibilities and make exemplary discharge of your service a certainty of your life and a routine. I received widespread support from you all and I encourage you to accord more to our new Chief of the Naval Staff.”
He further expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support and encouragement; legislative leaders, especially the leaders of the Navy committees in the two chambers for their advocacy towards accelerated growth of the navy; Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd) and other heads of MDAs; immediate past CDS, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (Rtd) and other retired service chiefs for their invaluable support and prompt cooperation always and recognise the crucial role of the intelligence community and our international partners to our naval operations.
He also commended the membership of NOWA and NARAWA, officers, ratings and civilian members of the navy family, just as he congratulated Rear Admiral AZ Gambo.
Traditional Pulling Out
After this, another important navy tradition took place. It was time to pull Ibas out. Climbing the white and bronze-painted jeep, which has pulled out countless CNS before him, Ibas and wife were pulled using a white thick rope.
The procession which started at NAVTRAC continued at the Western Naval Command and was led by the CNS, Rear Admiral Gambo. He was followed by representatives of other services, as well as senior naval officers. Lined up on both sides of the road were personnel of the service who saluted Ibas and wife as he was pulled out.
Sailing Out
The procession ended at the jetty inside the NNS BEECROFT. Marching on the red-carpet to the jetty, Ibas entertained few questions from journalists before he then boarded the vessel with his wife. Thus he was sailed out of the NN. With that tradition was kept and adhered to.
Although Ibas has gone as the 20th indigenous CNS, the navy marches on. It's a given that soon after the tenure of the new 21st indigenous CNS, tradition would be adhered to again during the pulling out. For the military, and the navy inclusive, tradition has indeed come to stay.