Buhari Bows to Pressure, Replaces Service Chiefs

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

After calls from several quarters for the sacking of the service chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally listened and has replaced them.

A statement issued on Tuesday afternoon in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said Mr Buhari accepted the resignation of the service chiefs.

With this development, General Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff; Lt-General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff; have all left their respective positions and have retired from service.

In the statement, President Buhari was said to have thanked the military officers for their service to the nation, especially in the fight against terrorism.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.

“Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

“President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their ‘overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,’ wishing them well in their future endeavours,” a part of the statement disclosed.

Meanwhile, Mr Buhari has appointed new officers to occupy the positions left behind by the retiring service chiefs, Mr Adesina disclosed in the statement.

According to him, “The new service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.”

Concluding the statement, the President’s spokesman said the new appointees were congratulated and urged “to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.”

The rising spate of insecurity in the country had spurred Nigerians to call for the heads of the service chiefs. Observers said a change in the leadership of the military would bring about new ideas in the fight against crime in the country.