President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday fired the military chiefs and National Security Adviser (NSA) he inherited from his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and replaced them with new ones.
Those removed were: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Air Marshal Adesola Amosu; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin and NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement announced their replacements.
Badeh is succeeded by Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin; Major-General T.Y. Buratai takes over from Minimah; Rear Admiral Ibok- Ete Ekwe Ibas replaces Jubril and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar is Amosun’s replacement. Besides, the president appointed Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) to take over from Dasuki as NSA.
He also named Air Vice-Marshal Monday Riku Morgan as the Chief of Defence Intelligence. The new service chiefs will hold their appointments in an acting capacity until their confirmation by the Senate.
Olonishakin, from Ekiti State, was until his appointment, Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State. Buratai, who hails from Borno State, was until yesterday Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which has its headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad.
He also served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State. Ibas, who is from Cross River State, was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited, until yesterday.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983. His previous appointments include: Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters. On his part, Abubakar who hails from Bauchi State was the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Headquarters.
His other previous appointments include: Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command.
Morgan, the new Chief of Defence Intelligence, is from Benue State. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in June 1982. His previous appointment includes Air Officer Commanding, NAF Logistics Command. Monguno, who took over from Sambo, was a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21st Regular Course.
Before his retirement from the Army, he held several command and staff appointments including: Commander, Guards Brigade, Deputy Commandant, National Defence College, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Defence Logistics and Commander, Training and Doctrine Command. Buhari, in the statement by his spokesman, commended all the outgoing service chiefs and the NSA for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours. None of the new service chiefs and the NSA agreed to speak to reporters after meeting with Buhari at the State House.
New Telegraph, however, learnt that Badeh heard the news of his sack yesterday in his office at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ). A source said: “The former Chief of Defence Staff cleared his table and entered his car and left the Defence Headquarters, immediately he watched the news of his sack on the television. “In fact, having been told by the Commanderin- Chief that he would send the officer that will replace him to his office, the chief was waiting patiently, only to hear about his sack on the television. “He felt there was no need waiting, and so, he left.”
On his part, Minimah was locked in a strategic four-day conference – which opened yesterday – with General Officers Commanding (GOCs), Commandants, Brigade Commanders and other operational commanders at the Army Headquarters Command Mess, Abuja, when he received news of his replacement.
In his opening address, Minimah had said: “In the past few months, we have achieved tremendous success in reclaiming all previously occupied territories from the terrorists. “Today, their ability to face our gallant troops in any form of combat has been seriously degraded.”
Meanwhile, there was jubilation by officers and soldiers at a military facility in Abuja, as they were said to be happy with the appointment of Buratai, as the new army chief.
A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “It was interesting to see officers and soldiers celebrating the appointment of General Buratai as the new army chief. “I think their jubilation is not because General Minimah was not good, but largely because they see General Buratai as bringing his operational and commanding experiences to bear at this critical time.”
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