- As 29 Major Generals senior to new COAS, General Yahaya, proceeds on their expected retirement
Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Farouk Yahaya, on Monday held his maiden meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The first meeting with General Yahaya came just as President Buhari also received “Security Briefing” on the state of the nation.
This is as it has emerged that 29 Major Generals who are senior to the COAS are to immediately proceed on one-month terminal leave.
On May 27, 2021, General Yahaya was appointed by President Buhari to succeed lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) transport plance crash in Kaduna on May 21, 2021.
The retiring Major Generals are going in line with long-standing military tradition in which senior officer senior to the Service Chiefs are required to retire.
General Yahaha is of the 37 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), which automatically makes him junior to 29 serving Generals who are of Course 35 and Course 36.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko, had last Thursday dismissed speculations of an impending mass retirement in the Nigerian Army.
But the 29 Generals who are leaving service include Major Generals JB Olawumi, the former DG of NYSC who was the most senior after Attahiru’s death; JO Akomolafe, CO Ude, G Oyefesobi, MO Uzoh, CC Okonkwo and MSA Aliyu.
Others include Generals UM Mohammed, BM Shafa, NE Angbazo, YP Auta, SA Yaro, J Sarham and HE Ayamasoawei.
The rest are Generals OF Azinta, BA Akinroluyo, KAY Isiyaku, AT Hamman, AM Aliyu, HPZ Vintienagba, HR Momoh, JR Unuigbe, AA Jidda, OI Uzomere, MH Magaji, LA Adegboye, MA Masanawa, OA Akinyemi and AM Dauda.
Even though they are being given the option of proceeding for a one-year course locally, after a one-month terminal leave, this is largely seen as a face-saving measure for the government and soft-landing for the retirees.
Analysts dismiss the offer for them to come back to work as civilian staff at Defence Headquarters under the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Onyenuchea Irabor, who is Course 34, as a mere ruse.
Many doubt the possibility of the retired Generals returning back to work one year after retirement to Defence Headquarters, out of uniform and losing all the privileges of being in service and wearing the Major General ranks.