By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senators have confirmed Major General Faruk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) whose pick by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27 led to the forced retirement of 29 Generals senior to the man, in line with military practice.
His confirmation on Tuesday followed the consideration of a report by the Joint Committee of Defence and Army.
Buhari appointed Yahaya after the death of former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash in Kaduna on May 21.
Before his new job, Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding Division 1 of the Nigerian Army and Theatre Commander of the Counter Terrorism, Counter Insurgency military outfit in the North East code named Operation HADIN KAI.
Senate Committee Chairman Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North) said the committee was satisfied with the comprehensive and robust nature of the engagement and interactions with Yahaya during screening.
According to him, the nomination is in line with Section 217 (2abc) of the Constitution and with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act 2004.
The committee did not receive any petition against Yahaya and was cleared by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
Wamakko recounted that during screening, “the nominee’s knowledge of the strategic capabilities of the army was exhaustive and impressive.
“He showed a clear knowledge of the army with apt for a Chief of Army Staff. Despite the army being the largest of the Armed Forces, the nominee was clear in his vision to encourage joint operational synergy with other services for success in all theatre of operations.”
Need for transparency
Wamakko noted that Yahaya agreed on the need for the army to have more transparency and disclosure to the Senate Security Committee to ensure harmonious working relationship, as they are stakeholders in security.
Yahaya understands the need to ensure peace in elections, he added, stressing that all hands must be on deck to deal with thorny issues such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Boko Haram’s insurgency.
Wamakko said Yahaya disclosed to the Committee that under his command in January 2021, troops advanced into enclaves held by the late Abubakar Shekau in Alagarno forest Timbuktu triangle axis.
Senator Ali Ndume said: “Due to the nature of the appointment as part of our security apparatus, the Committee decided to do the screening in a closed session after the preliminaries.
“And, therefore, I want to appeal to the Senate to expeditiously approve this confirmation so that the Chief of Army Staff be decorated accordingly to enable him start some of the jobs he cannot do now because he is still in acting capacity.”
Yahaya’s record
Senator Gabriel Suswam added that given Yahaya’s record in the army he is equipped to tackle insurgency and terrorism.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan commended the joint committees for doing a thorough job and sought support for the military in the fight against insecurity.
Said he: “Let me also remark here, that what our country faces may be military, but the military alone cannot resolve the security challenges. The military needs the support of each and every single citizen of this country.
“In whatever capacity we find ourselves, either a legislators, government functionaries, businessmen or simple citizens, we must give the military the kind of support that it requires.”