By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Additional 343 personnel, 317 men and 26 women, have retired from the combined forces of the military, three weeks after the retirement of 29 army Generals and two weeks after the redeployment of other senior officers.
The new retirees were disengaged after six months of training at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi, Lagos. That brings to over 50,000 personnel skilled for vocational and entrepreneurship since the inception of NAFRC.
The retirees comprised 266 from the Army, 71 (Navy) and seven (Air Force). The forces lost two men, per reporting by The Guardian (Nigeria).
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said at the graduation ceremony that the retirees were trained on the rudiments for reintegration into civilian life and urged them to remain dedicated and disciplined as they go back to civil society.
Their completion of the intensive training reflected their determination, commitment and discipline, which are attributes acquired in the course of service to the nation, added Irabor, represented by acting Chief of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Okon Eyo.
He said the retirees had been transferred from active military duty to the legion of veterans who continue to make positive contributions to the country.
Irabor counselled them on the challenges ahead, stressing that post-service life has its peculiar challenges, including management of resources, especially retirement benefits, influences from friends and family members, management of both mental and physical health, as well as integration into civil society,
Be proactive to avoid problems, he urged ghem.
NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Mashall Mohammed Idris, said the centre is well-positioned to deliver on its core mandate of vocational training both for retiring armed forces personnel and all Nigerians.
A retiree, Awo Okonkwo, who served in the army said: “It was a challenging moment for me. I thank God for seeing me through.”
Another, Lawal Olamiposi, who served in the Navy, explained that it was a tough time for her serving as an officer, a wife, and mother.
“Being an officer requires a lot from me, especially being able to manage my in-laws, children and home. When I am at home, I put my military self away and act like a wife and mother and when I am away I am an officer,” she added.
Army redeploys senior officers
Several senior army officers were redeployed two weeks ago, after President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Faruk Yahaya, a Major General, as Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
The reshuffle came 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.
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 took immediate effect, and Yahaya urged the officers “to justify the confidence reposed in them,” per the statement issued by Yerima.
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, according to the statement.
Those affected in the reorganisation included
· 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).
Army retires 29 Generals
A total 29 Generals senior to Yahaya had been 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.
Shortly after Yahaya’s 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. Yahaya is a member of Regular Course 37.
Dictates of military 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.
Generals retired 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.