President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of Service Chiefs and appointed new officers as replacements.
This was announced on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who noted that the service chiefs have also retired from service.
The statement reads;
PMB appoints new Service Chiefs. Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Alao, Air Force.
He congratulates outgoing Service Chiefs on efforts to bring enduring peace to the country.
PMB appoints new Service Chiefs. Maj Gen LEO Irabor, CDS, Maj Gen I Attahiru, Army, Rear Adm AZ Gambo, Navy, AVM IO Alao, Air Force. He congratulates outgoing Service Chiefs on efforts to bring enduring peace to the country.
— Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) January 26, 2021
The news was also announced via President Muhammadu Buhari’s official Twitter handle, saying;
I have accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. I thank them all for their overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to Nigeria, and wish them well in their future endeavours.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) January 26, 2021
The outgoing service chiefs are General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff); Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).
The move by the President comes after several demands by Nigerians that the President replace the service chiefs and rejig Nigeria’s military apparatus to effectively combat the security challenges confronting the nation in recent times.
As far back as July, the Nigerian Senate had called on the service chiefs to step aside.
The Senate reiterated its call in December after 43 farmers were killed in Zabarmari, Borno State, by Boko Haram terrorists.
Read Also: Just In: Senate Calls For Sack Of Service Chiefs
Many of them the President was breaking the law by keeping the Service Chiefs, who had been in their positions since 2015.
Also, members of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, have also often called for the top military officials to be replaced.
Read Also: ‘Sack Of Service Chiefs Is Presidential Prerogative’ -Buhari Replies Senate
In reaction to these calls, Presidency had said President Muhammadu Buhari would make the decision when “the time is right.”
