Calabar – Rear Adm. Charles Medani, the outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, has urged officers and ratings of the command to vote in general elections in 2015.
Medani gave the charge in Calabar, Cross River State during the handover of the leadership of the Command to his successor, Rear Adm. Henry Babalola.
He said that it was the responsibility of the navy to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure hitch free elections at states and federal levels.
“As citizens, you are entitled to vote for candidates of your choice.
“But as uniform personnel, you must be strictly neutral in discharging whatever security responsibilities that you have been ordered to carry out in support of INEC.
“If you must vote, go through the process in mufti and without drawing any attention to your military status.
“On no circumstances must you compromise your political neutrality in the electoral process.íí
On his achievement in the command, the FOC said that the command reduced the rate of piracy.
He added, however, that only four cases of attacks on oil tankers and services vessels were recorded.
On infrastructure, he said that the ultra-modern Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman auditorium has been completed after being abandoned for 25 years.
He said that new vehicles had been procured for the command while the old ones had been extensively refurbished to improve transportation.
“The six flats at the 1006 officerís quarters have been put to use following the completion of the outstanding electrical works.
“I deeply appreciate the various corporate bodies and individuals who have made generous contribution to support the various infrastructural projects undertaken during my tenure”, he said.
He thanked officers and ratings of the command for working closely with him during his tenure.
Receiving the flag of the command, Rear Adm. Henry Babalola commended Medani for the infrastructural development in the Command.
Babalola pledged to continue work on the projects that were not completed during the tenure of Medani.
He called on officers and ratings of the command to give him the support to move the command to an enviable height.
Medani has been transferred to Navy Headquarters in Abuja as Chief of Training and Operations.