By Joy Odor
The Commanding Officer of the 102 Guards Battalion, Nigerian Army (NA), Lieutenant Colonel UR Rowlings Oiseomaye has on Friday, the 4th of December, 2020 celebrated the West African Social Activities (WASA) aimed at commanding the confidence of troops and foster espirit de-corps among them.
Addressing the soldiers, officers, guests and civilians during the celebration at the Zuma Barrack Parade ground, venue for the event, Lt. Col. Oiseomaye noted that the objective is to grant the request by soldiers to participate in their local cultural rituals.
According to him, it is also at getting the personnel and their families with friends together in a social and conductive atmosphere of the aged long tradition practiced by the Nigerian Army, where officers and soldiers in the barracks retired from their regimental life to dine and wine.
He was of the opinion that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the Unit has no doubt made a tremendous success in the area of training, infrastructural development and in securing it’s Area of Responsibility (AR) during the year, hence the celebration.
The however reiterated that Nigeria has been a reference point when culture is mentioned anywhere in the world and the WASA being celebrated would feature colorful and entertaining dancing, displayed of local dishes from different parts of the tribes.
He therefore explained that the “NA derives it’s origin from the West African Frontier Forces (WAFF) comprising various British West African Units during the Colonial era.
“The fore bearers of the West African Units distinguished themselves in many battles under the British Flag. Owning to the diverse cultural inclination of the West African Soldiers, the colonial authorities introduced WASA, organized once every year to grant the request by soldiers to participate in their local cultural rituals.
“These cultural rituals were in the form of sacrifices usually offered at the end of harvest or beginning of the planting season to their gods and ancestors for a bumper harvest or for peace and progress they enjoyed during the year.
“Accordingly, after lndepedence, the NA upheld the tradition practiced during the WAFF rather than sending Representatives to the various villages who had their children in the military to perform their respective rituals at the end of every year” CO stressed.
Delivery his message, the Council member to his Royal Highness, Emir of Gumel, Jigawa State, the Garkuwan Gumel, retired Major General Muhammad Tashim who opined that unity is the essential aspect of the military job, told the soldiers and officers of the Battalion to rallying round the CO for the performance of the unit operational.
The Garkuwan Gumel described the WASA as an important day in every Battalion’s Ife which provided comnands, soldiers and officers a forum to express sub cultural, in a social atmosphere.
“It is integral part of command, how you bring your men together to achieve the mission of the Battalion. This is one of the means by which families and commands interact, to understand themselves for better performance Operational.
“I urge Nigerians to be close rank and let harmony be our watchword. The military is one body, and it must continue to be one body and one language. I called for the unity of the Battalion, in thinking, in action, for the nation, for the Flag which is the military job and disregard negative talks” Garkuwan Gumel noted.
In his closing remark, the second in-charge of the 102 Guards Battalion, Major Usman Adamu thanked all and sundry for founding time to grace the occasion especially, the Commander Guards Brigade Brig. Gen. MT Usman, the Council member to his Royal Highness Emir of Gumel, Jigawa State, Garkuwan Gumel retired Maj. Gen. Muhammad Tashim, speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Bawa, Snr Military and Police officers, council chairmen, Emir of Suleja, NAOWA Area Representatives 102 Guards Battalion, NAOWA Coordinator Guards Brigade, the Garrison Commander and Commanding Officers, Snr officers from other Sy agencies etc.
Major Adamu congratulated them for their fatherly support and kindness to ensure the occasion become memorable success for the annual regimental activity aimed at bringing Officers, soldiers, their families and civilian friends together in a conductive social atmosphere.
Highlights of the WASA include cultural troupes display, like the lgbos, Calabar, Fulani, lbira, Gbagi, Tivs, Yoruba, Nupe and lgala. Life performance dancing, snake and morkey dancing, acrobatics dance, masquerades appearance amongst others.
