Immediate-past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), officially hung up his uniform on Friday,31 October, declaring that he departs “with a clear conscience” after nearly four decades of dedicated service to the country.
He bared his mind during his pull-out parade, held at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.
The ceremony drew military top brass, government officials, and family members who gathered under the midday sun to felicitate the soft-spoken general who steered the Armed Forces through some of the most challenging years in the battle against insurgency, banditry, and other security threats.
“As I hang my uniform today, I do so with a clear conscience, knowing that I gave my all,” Musa told the assembled crowd in a voice steady with emotion.
“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 further declared.
Appointed CDS on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu in a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, Musa’s tenure was marked by intensified operations against Boko Haram, ISWAP, and rampant kidnappings across the North-West and beyond.
Though challenges persist, he highlighted increased gains made possible through inter-agency synergy—a theme he hammered home in his valedictory address.
“I want to state this clearly: there is no single institution, no single organisation that can win this war alone,” Musa emphasized.
“We must synergise, we must collaborate, we must fight together. And I appeal to all Nigerians to pray for our troops, to pray for our security forces so that we can win—and together we shall succeed. Nigeria shall continue to develop,” he added.
The general reserved special praise for President Tinubu, calling his appointment “an honour I did not take for granted.”
Even in retirement, Musa pledged unwavering loyalty: “I might be retiring from active military service today, but I’m by no means retiring from my love for our dear country, Nigeria. I remain a soldier at heart and a patriot ever loyal to the Constitution and sovereignty of our great nation.”
In a touching nod to his family, Musa saluted them as the “unsung heroes” who endured prolonged absences and the anxieties of high-stakes deployments.
He also extended gratitude to the media, sister security agencies, and the Nigerian public for their support during his over two-year stint at the helm.
Congratulating his successor, General Olufemi Oluyede—who formally assumed office on Thursday—Musa urged officers and men to accord the new leadership the same “loyalty and professionalism” they showed him.
“The baton has been passed; carry it with pride,” he charged.
The ceremony featured the traditional pulling out of the retired CDS from the Guard of Honour, symbolic of his transition from active duty.
As the national anthem played and the flags dipped, applause erupted—testimony to a career defined by quiet resolve rather than fanfare.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Gen. Musa.
