Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa (retd.), on Friday bowed out of the Nigerian Armed Forces, declaring that he was leaving service with a “clear conscience” after what he described as decades of dedicated service to the nation.
Musa, who was succeeded by General Olufemi Oluyede following President Bola Tinubu’s recent overhaul of the military hierarchy, spoke at his pull-out parade held in Abuja.
“As I hang my uniform today, I do so with a clear conscience, knowing that I gave it my all,” the retired General said. “I leave with cherished memories of camaraderie — of battles fought and triumphs celebrated as one family.”
He described his exit from active duty as the end of a chapter, but not the end of his loyalty to the country.
“The sound of the bugle may change for me, but the soldier’s heart beats on forever. I might be retiring from active military service today, but I remain a soldier at heart and a patriot ever loyal to the constitution and sovereignty of our great nation,” he said.
Musa, who served as CDS for more than two years after his appointment in June 2023, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to lead the Armed Forces at a critical time in the fight against insecurity.
“It has been a great honour and I don’t take that for granted,” he noted.
He urged Nigerians to rally behind the new service chiefs and security operatives, stressing that national security requires collective support and inter-agency collaboration.
“There is no single institution or organisation that can win this war alone,” he warned. “We must synergise, we must collaborate, we must fight together. 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.”
Musa’s retirement comes one week after President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the new CDS, alongside Lt-Gen Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff and new heads for the Navy and Air Force. The service chiefs were confirmed by the Senate and decorated by the President on Thursday.
General Musa is widely regarded for leading joint military operations across troubled regions, including the North-East and North-West, before his elevation as Defence Chief.
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