By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Several senior army officers have been redeployed in an overhaul two weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Faruk Yahaya, a Major General, as Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
The reshuffle also comes five days after 29 Generals senior to Yahaya were retired to stabilise him in the job.
Army spokesperson, Mohammed Yerima, a Brigadier General, announced the reposting in a statement.
Per PREMIUM TIMES, notable among the new appointments redeployments is that of C.G. Musa, a Major General, who is named the new Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the counter insurgency operation in the North East.
Also, Onyema Nwachukwu, a Brigadier General, becomes army spokesperson; and A.M. Umar, a Brigadier General, is Chief of Staff to the COAS.
The reshuffle, considered normal when there is a new leadership in the force, was expected when Yahaya was appointed on May 27 to replace Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash on May 21.
A similar reshuffle in the army took place in February, a few days after Attahiru took over.
The latest redeployments take immediate effect, and Yahaya urged the officers “to justify the confidence reposed in them,” per the statement issued by Yerima.
The statement explained that the postings and appointments are in line with Yahaya’s vision to have a professional army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a Joint Environment in Defence of Nigeria.
Those affected in the reorganisation include
· Major General FO Omoigui from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI to Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria and appointed Director General.
· Major General CG Musa from Nigerian Army Resource Centre to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI and appointed Theatre Commander.
· Major General OR Aiyenigba from Defence Headquarters to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police and appointed Provost Marshal (Army).
· Major General IM Jallo from Defence Space Administration to Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI and appointed Deputy Theatre Commander 1.
· Brigadier General NU Muktar from Nigeria High Commission Islamabad to Office of the Chief of Army Staff and appointed Director of Procurement.
· Brigadier General O Nwachukwu from Defence Headquarters (Director Defence Information) to Headquarters Directorate of Army Public Relations and appointed Director.
· Brigadier General AE Abubakar from Department of Training and Operations (Defunct) to Headquarters 22 Brigade and appointed Commander.
· Brigadier General KO Ukandu from Office of the Chief of Army Staff (Director Procurement) to National Defence College and appointed Directing Staff.
· Brigadier General IB Abubakar from Nigerian Army Armour School to Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations and appointed Deputy Director Operations.
· Brigadier General AM Umar from Army War College Nigeria to Office of the Chief of Army Staff and appointed Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff.
· Brigadier General AJS Gulani from Nigerian Army Armour School to Headquarters 24 Task Force Brigade and appointed Commander.
· Colonel KE Inyang from Headquarters Department of Army Logistics to Office of the Chief of Army Staff and appointed Military Assistant to the Chief of Army Staff.
· Colonel OO Braimah from Headquarters Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI to Nigeria High Commission Islamabad and appointed Defence Attache.
· Colonel IP Omoke from Office of the Chief of Army Staff to Defence Intelligence Agency and appointed Assistor Director Foreign Liaison/ Liaison Officer (Army).
29 Generals retired to stabilise Yahaya as COAS
A total 29 Generals senior to Yahaya were forced to retire on June 1 by the army in order to stabilise his job as COAS.
In the military, a hierarchical operation, seniors do not take orders from juniors.
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the forced departures contradicted the claim by Defence Headquarters the previous week that none of its personnel had been retired following the appointment of Yahaya, a member of Regular Course 37.
Shortly after his appointment on May 27, there were speculations that between 30 and 45 Generals, who were his seniors, might be retired.
The senior Generals were members of Regular Courses 35 and 36.
Dictates of tradition
Military tradition dictates that when a junior officer becomes service chief, his or her seniors proceed on retirement because seniors hate taking orders from juniors.
This also happens in the police and paramilitary forces.
Defence HQ denial
However, Defence HQ dismissed the speculation of massive retirement, saying the military high command had yet to authorise the retirement of any officer.
Acting Director of Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, a Brigadier General, previously told journalists at a briefing in Abuja that the retirement of senior officers is always voluntary.
“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya,” Onyeuko said.
“This has stirred up a lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military. I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only on a voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so.
“At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command.”
Generals retired
But a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES shows that 29 Major Generals from Regular Course 36 were approved to proceed on terminal leave, prelude to retirement, four days after Yahaya’s appointment as COAS.
They included J.B Olawumi, J.O. Akomolafe, C.O. Ude, G. Oyefesobi, M.O. Uzoh, C.C. Okonkwo, and M.S.A. Aliyu, U.M. Mohammed, B.M. Ashafa, N.E. Angbazo, Y.P. Auta, and S.A. Yaro.
Their leave was approved with effect from June 1.
The memo is, however, silent on Major Generals from Regular Course 35, who are also senior to Yahaya.
Below is the full list of Generals proceeding on retirement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES:
1. JB Olawumi
2. JO Akomolafe
3. CO Ude
4. G Oyefesobi
5. MO Uzoh
6. CC Okonkwo
7. MSA Aliyu
8. UM Mohammed
9. BM Shafa
10. NE Angbazo
11. YP Auta
12. SA Yaro
13. J Sarham
14. HE Ayamasoawei
15. OF Azinta
16. BA Akinroluyo
17. KAY Isiyaku
18. AT Hamman
19. AM Aliyu
20. HPZ Vintienagba
21. HR Momoh
22. JR Unuigbe
23. AA Jidda
24. OI Uzomere
25. MH Magaji
26. LA Adegboye
27. MA Masanawa
28. OA Akinyemi
29. AM Dauda