The sack of Service Chiefs, Military Generals and reaction to the Coup rumour in Nigeria

In a shocking and unexpected moment, The Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria reshuffle the Nigeria Military high command by sacking over 60 Military generals which has led to reaction from different quarters with some ascribing it to the rumour of coup d'etat by unloyal officers and their commanders.

Nigeria which is currently facing unending rise in insecurity across regions which originated from the NorthEast but spreading into Northcentral region and potential incursion into the Southwest that is known to be the most peaceful region in Nigeria.

Many critics have found reason to question the bold move of the president for sacking and replacing the service chiefs, but many also praising the president for rewarding General Waheed Shuaibu for his service in the theatre of war and his approach to counter insurgency operation in Bornu state, before his appointment into the Nigeria Space Agency, Abuja.

With the current security threat ravaging Kwara state and Kogi state, appointing an experienced war chief from the region is a masterstroke strategy to combat the rising threat. General Shuaibu who hails from Kogi state currently appointed as the Chief of Army Staff is expected to bring his experience and vast knowledge to secure Nigeria with focus on neutralizing security threat in the North Central.

General Olufemi Oluyede who is promoted to the position of Chief of Defence Staff from his previous position of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), this promotion has raised questions and also the retaining of Major General Undiendeye of the Nigeria Defence Intelligence.

As part of the military tradition, when a junior officer is promoted to the rank of service chiefs, the senior officers are subjected to voluntarily retirement as they are not expected to bow to their junior colleague.

The statement announcing their removal, signed by Sunday Dare, the special adviser to the president on media and public communication, said the action was taken to further the federal government’s efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.

The President appointed former Army Chief, General Olufemi Oluyede, as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu, Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke becomes Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

Those sacked alongside General Musa are the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar.

The retired service Chiefs will go home with one bulletproof SUV and one Prado Jeep, or an equivalent vehicle as a bawill, $60,000 For Medicals.

These vehicles are to be maintained by the respective Services and replaced every four years

Full retirement benefits