fbpx
Connect with us

News

Army Chief: Tribal, Regional Factors May Delay New COAS appointment

Published

on

Logo

 

 

Barely 72 hours after the death of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru in a plane crash, there is a political dilemma over the region and likely tribe of the person that could be appointed for the Nigerian Army’s top job.

PRNigeria gathered from competent and knowledgeable sources on the ongoing appointment that government seems to be in a fix. This is because some touted people on the list happened to come from the same States or tribes of current occupants of other military and security Chiefs, making it difficult for the government to make an urgent decision on Attahiru’s successor.

Attahiru and 10 other military officers died in a plane crash on Friday, during an official visit to Kaduna State. Some retired senior security officers who are politicians are also putting pressure on the presidency to consider seniority, competence, merit and war experience and jettison ethnic and sectional sentiments in picking the next COAS.

Breaking :Chief Of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru Dies In Plane Crash
A retired military officer with vast intelligence background, told PRNigeria that socio-political factor may likely play a role in the choice of the candidate for the Army Chief job. He however, said Mr. President wields the discretion to pick anybody of his choice.

#

“Those being touted as late Attahiru’s successors are eminently qualified on account of their vast qualifications, professional discipline, instructional appointments, service command, operational experiences, and above all managerial capabilities. They are suitable, but political consideration of regions, states and tribes may likely be some of the determinant factors. “For instance, one of the latest names being pencilled down is Major General Jamil Sharham, originally of Regular Course 35 but running RC 36 seniority. He was the Sector Commander, Operation Restore Hope in the Niger Delta, and Brigade Commander at Baga in the North-East. Before he was appointed Commandant National Defence Academy (NDA), he was Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry and GOC 6 Division. He is currently a Senior Research Fellow at NIPSS,” the retired military officer said.

Investigation by PRNigeria revealed that the major dilemma in the choice of Sharham is the fact that he is from Kano State, where the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, hails from. A similar dilemma on tribe may play out since the present Chief of Policy and Plan (COPP), Major General Ben Ahonatu is an Igbo, like the current Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Lucky Irabor, though they are from different but neighbouring states of Anambra in South-East and Delta in South-South respectively.

General Ahanotu of Regular Course 35 and very fluent in Hausa. He was the Military Commander that captured the founder of Boko Haram, late Mohammed Yusuf and his followers, at their hideout in Maiduguri in 2009 before handing them over to the Police.

Similarly, the Army’s Chief of Operation, Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf is from Yobe, the state of the current acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba. Gen Yusuf of Regular Course 37 was former Force Commander, Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF) and General Officer Commanding 7 Division. He also taught at Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji. Last Saturday, unconfirmed reports claimed that Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, was appointed as COAS.

However, PRNigeria gathered that General Ali-Keffi was not among the more than 30 most senior military officers in the Nigerian Army. Another officer being touted is Major General AM Aliyu of Regular Course 36 from Gombe State. He is the Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army and former Director, Foreign Liaison, at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

He was responsible for processing actionable intelligence for military operations in recent years. Another officer being mentioned is Major General Faruk Yahaya of Regular Course 37 from Zamfara State. He is the current Theatre Commander Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East and former General Officer Commanding of 1 Division. PRNigeria further gathered that there are other senior operational officers worthy of considerations because of their rich experience in counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.

 

News

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin Distributes 1000 Motorcycles to Kano Police

Published

on

 

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has distributed 1,000 operational motorcycles to the Kano State Police Command, in a move aimed at enhancing the mobility and operational capacity of the police force. The distribution ceremony, held in Kano, was attended by various dignitaries and stakeholders.

In his speech, Jibrin expressed his gratitude to the Nigerian police for their efforts in maintaining peace in Kano. “I am thanking the Nigerian police Kano command for bringing peace to reign in Kano,” he said. He acknowledged the role of traditional rulers in supporting the police and emphasized the importance of their contributions to the state’s security.

Jibrin highlighted the significance of the motorcycles in improving the efficiency of the police force. “My intention is to give a motorcycle to every policeman,” he stated, underscoring his commitment to equipping the police with the necessary tools to perform their duties effectively.

#

Muktara Gashash, Chairman of the Eminent Persons Forum, commended Jibrin for his generous gesture. “This initiative will greatly enhance the operational capabilities of the Kano police,” Gashash remarked, praising the Deputy Senate President’s dedication to supporting law enforcement.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, Salman Dogo Garba, also spoke at the event, urging his fellow officers to utilize the motorcycles to enhance their service delivery. “As we embrace this new chapter of enhanced mobility and operational capacity, I urge my fellow police officers to embrace these motorcycles as tools of service excellence,” Garba said. He emphasized the importance of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in their duties.

Garba further encouraged the police officers to use the motorcycles to strengthen their relationships with the communities they serve. “Let us leverage this significant investment to forge even stronger bonds with the communities we serve, fostering trust, cooperation, and mutual respect,” he added.

The distribution of the motorcycles is expected to significantly improve the response time and effectiveness of the Kano State Police Command, contributing to the overall safety and security of the state.

 

Continue Reading

News

President Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation for Lt. General Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff

Published

on

 

President Bola Tinubu on Friday wrote the Senate, seeking confirmation of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.

“In his letter sent today, President Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act,” Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of Lt. General Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff.’

Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30 following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

General Lagbaja, however, died on November 5.

Onanuga said, “President Tinubu is confident about the leadership qualities, professional integrity, and experience of Lt. General Oluyede to lead and inspire the army to ensure national security and stability.”

Before he was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, like his predecessor, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna.

 

#
Continue Reading

News

Lawyer Alleges Tenure Elongation Plot in Letter to Governor Yusuf

Published

on

 

Barrister Mustapha I. Zubair, a prominent lawyer and politically conscious citizen of Kano State, has written a letter to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, alleging a plot by certain senior civil servants to extend their tenure of service beyond the mandated retirement age. The letter, which expresses deep concern over the issue, highlights the potential implications of such actions on the state’s governance and public trust.

Zubair, a registered voter of Gwale Local Government, begins the letter by expressing gratitude and admiration for Governor Yusuf’s leadership and pro-people policies. “Your exemplary leadership and pro-people policies have continually fostered growth and prosperity, and we, the citizens, are deeply appreciative of your dedication,” Zubair states in the letter.

However, Zubair quickly shifts focus to the matter of tenure elongation, which he describes as a growing concern among the people of Kano State. “It is evidently clear that after the recent posting of permanent secretaries in the state, some top government functionaries who will be due for retirement in December 2024 are now striving day and night to secure tenure elongation only for themselves,” he alleges.

The letter emphasizes the potential negative implications of such actions, suggesting that the attempt to prolong service tenure by a few senior civil servants could undermine the principles of fairness and transparency in the state’s administration. Zubair urges Governor Yusuf to address the issue promptly to maintain public trust and ensure that the state’s governance remains transparent and accountable.

The letter concludes with a plea for Governor Yusuf to take immediate action to prevent any attempts at tenure elongation and to uphold the integrity of the state’s civil service. “We trust in your commitment to justice and fairness, and we believe that you will take the necessary steps to address this issue,” Zubair writes.

The allegations have sparked discussions among political observers and citizens, who are keenly watching how Governor Yusuf will respond to the concerns raised in the letter.

 

#

Continue Reading

Trending