New service chiefs: Buhari may end the military careers of over 40 Generals

The appointment of new service chiefs on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari may end the military careers of over 40 Major-Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals in the three Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force.

This is coming just as the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has met with his successor, Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, in preparation for a formal handing and taking-over on a yet to be announced date.

Similarly, the new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, and the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, met with their predecessors, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, to finalise their notes.

The former Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah, is yet to meet with his successor, Major-General Tukur Buratai, who was yet to arrive in Abuja, from his base in Chad. Army authorities, however, said the new chief may be arriving late Tuesday night or today.

Already, commands, units and formations of the Army, Navy and Air Force have been directed to compile their initial briefings to their respective head-quarters, to update the new chiefs with situations of things.

Meanwhile, following the appointment of the new service chiefs, the most officers in the ranks of Major-Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals, have commenced their terminal leave.

Mostly affected are members of Courses 25, 26, 27 and 28, of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and their Short Service counterparts.

Daily Sun gathered that the reason to retire the officers was to pave the way for the newly-appointed CDS and the service chiefs to operate freely.

Military sources said in Abuja that unlike in the past where some officers who are senior to the COAS, CNS and the CAS, are allowed to remain in service and posted to the Defence Headquarters to work with the CDS, who is usually the most senior military officer in service, the situation was no longer the same.

They said the decision to allow these officers remain in service had sometimes led to friction between them and the service chiefs as they most times kick against their decisions, using seniority as cover.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff second quarterly conference which opened in Abuja on Monday ended yesterday.

Participants who converged at the venue in the morning with the hope that the Chief Of Policy and Plans(COPP), Major-General Ugo Buzugbe, and the Chief of Training and Operations(CTOP), Major-General Ewansiah, were going to preside, were disappointed.

However, the meeting could not hold as participants were seen outside discussing other important matters after which they left the venue. [Sunnews]