‘I Leave with a Clear Conscience’: Ex-CDS Musa Bows Out in Emotional Pull-Out Parade

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a poignant farewell laced with gratitude and a soldier’s unyielding patriotism, immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), officially hung up his uniform on Friday, declaring he departs “with a clear conscience” after nearly four decades of dedicated service to Nigeria.

The pull-out parade, held at the Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja, drew top military brass, government officials, and family members who gathered under the midday sun to bid adieu to the soft-spoken general who steered the Armed Forces through some of its 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.”

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 northwest and beyond. Though challenges persist, he highlighted incremental 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 emphasised.

“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.”

The retired 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 those closest to him, Musa saluted his family 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 ratings 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.

Musa’s exit caps a chapter in Nigeria’s military leadership at a time when the country continues to grapple with multifaceted security crises. Yet his parting words served as both reflection and rallying cry: the fight goes on, but so does the hope for a safer, stronger nation.