He made the commendation in Enugu, yesterday, when he hosted the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, at the national secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
While expressing delight with his visit, he said that without peace, nations could not progress and that without the armed forces there would be more problems.
He ranked the Nigerian Army among the best in Africa and called on the troops to continue doing their best to ensure peace and security nationwide.
Responding, Lagbaja described Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a key stakeholder in the management of the division’s core area of responsibility.
He commended the Ohanaeze leadership for their recent pronouncement against the use of force to ensure the secessionists’ planned sit-at-home order.
While assuring South East residents of security, the General warned troublemakers against any breach of security.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting with newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, the National Leader of IPAN, Lawrence Onuzulike, charged Ndigbo to avoid any situation that would result in deaths and destruction of property.
He reminded them of their position as strong stakeholders in the affairs of Nigeria, urging them to hold strongly to their own share of the national cake.
He equally frowned on the attitude of some Igbo people who establish businesses outside the region instead of within their environment.
“The South East zone must avoid whatever will cause them to go to war in Nigeria. We are yet to fully recover from experiences of the civil war between 1967 and 1970. Our homes were devastated. We were refugees. Thousands of people died, many people were yet to be unaccounted for, some have not recovered from injuries sustained and properties were lost.
“We are among the people who own this country. We should stand to claim what belongs to the zone. People should not run away from the country.
