More than 24 hours after the death of the Chief of Army Chief (COAS), Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military officers in a plane crash, the Presidency is yet to name a replacement as the nation mourns the departed souls.
But normally, whoever is the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army Headquarters, always acts on behalf of the COAS whenever he is on leave. He is usually the next in seniority after the COAS.
Already, there have been Social Media posts since Saturday claiming that Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of Nigerian Army, Kaduna, may be appointed.
However, sources said that General Keffi from Nasarawa State was not among the most senior officers in service of the Nigerian Army. In fact, he has more than 30 senior Major Generals above him in seniority.
The implication is that if he is appointed, all his seniors will leave and proceed on retirement as by tradition, no senior is expected to serve under his junior.
A source said: “The consequence of this if it is true, is that it will force these brilliant officers to retire at a period we need more hands in the prosecution of diverse operations across the country. I don’t think we need such mass retirement now,” a security expert opined.
“You know the President has the discretion to appoint anyone he so wishes with advice or probably a nomination from the Minister of Defence.
“Apart from Seniority in service, officers so considered must have been grounded in military operations and intelligence.”
Some of the most senior and experienced Army officers include the current Chief of Policy and Plan, Major General Ben Ahanotu. He is of Regular Course 35 from Anambra State.
General Ahanotu was the Commander of the Military Operation that captured the founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, and his followers at their hideout in Maiduguri in 2009 before handing them over to the Police.
But by the precedence of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, General Ahanotu is off the race for the top position because the government is not disposed to appointing Igbos to sensitive security positions not to talk of being Chief of Army Staff.
Major General AM Aliyu, who is of Regular Course 36 from Gombe State, is the Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters and former Director, Foreign Liaison at Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) responsible for processing actionable intelligence for military operations.
Another officer is Major General Ibrahim Manu Yusuf of Regular Course 37, from Yobe State. He is Chief of Operation, Army Headquarters and former Force Commander, Multinational Joint Taskforce (MNJTF).
General Yusuf, who was also a former Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, was also a Directing Staff in several military institutions including Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji.
Major General Faruk Yahaya of Regular Course 37, from Zamfara State, a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 1st Division of the Nigerian Army, is the current Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai in the Northeast.
Apart from the above, there are other senior officers whom the cap of the COAS would fit.
Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other military officers died in a plane crash on Friday on an official visit to the Northern State of Kaduna, including the Chief of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Kuliya; and Provost Marshall, Brigadier General Olayinka.
They were buried amidst military honours and sobbing by family, friends and sympathisers at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja.
By PRNigeria
