The Community Auxiliary Development for Effective Transformation Network has defended its use of a guard of honour during its events, describing it as a standard protocol to welcome dignitaries.
The organisation made this clarification on Monday following public criticism of a viral video showing Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, inspecting a guard of honour at an event.
On Sunday, former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, criticised the gesture. Atiku described it as an “anomaly” and a “serious breach of military tradition” and called for an investigation into the reported military honours accorded to the President’s son.
Responding to the controversy, CADETN’s Corps Commander, Josh Fatoye, issued a statement clarifying that the guard of honour was not exclusive to Seyi Tinubu but was extended to all dignitaries present at the event, which was held in Ogun State under the banner of the CityBoy Youth Empowerment Program.
He said, “As a youth uniformed volunteer organisation, we want to set the record straight and clear misconceptions about the guard of honour. It is of note that the guard of honour was used to welcome dignitaries to the event as it is a youth empowerment programme, and the organisation is a youth organisation.
“The guard also honoured other dignitaries like the PA to the President on Special Duties as the program played host to many dignitaries like the Minister of Youth Development, Minister of Digital Economy, SSA to the President on Citizenship & Leadership, SSA to the President on Digital Comm & New Media, CoS to Ogun State Governor and so many other dignitaries that graced the occasion. This was not exclusive to Seyi Tinubu.”
Fatoye emphasised that CADETN operates as a youth-focused uniformed voluntary organisation akin to the Man O’ War and Peace Corps and is not affiliated with the military or the Armed Forces.
He added, “The CADETN is a youth uniformed organisation and not a military outfit and also not in any way affiliated to the military or Armed Forces as been claimed by some mischief makers. The organisation is a voluntary organisation that operates like the likes of Man O’ War, Peace Corps, Royal Ambassador, Man of Order, WAI Brigade and other relevant uniformed voluntary organisations.”
Addressing allegations of using military paraphernalia or live ammunition, Fatoye categorically refuted the claims, calling them “false and misleading.”
He said, “We would like to state categorically that no ammunition was used and no military paraphernalia was used during the guard of honour as peddled by critics. The guard of honour was mounted using wooden crafted dummy rifles as it is practised among other uniform organisations. Any weapon seen in the video is that of the security details of the dignitaries and not that of the organisation.”
The statement from CADETN aims to dispel what it described as misconceptions and set the record straight regarding its protocols and practices.
