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DHQ Speaks On Alleged Retirement Of Generals To Pave Way For New Army Chief
- “At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command.”
The defence headquarters has reacted to purported retirement of senior army officers following the appointment of Farouk Yahaya as chief of army staff.
The military refuted reports that Yahaya appointment has spurred mass retirement in the Nigerian Army.
Bernard Onyeuko, DHQ spokesperson, said the military headquarters has not approved any retirement in the wake of Farouk’s appointment.
Yahaya, a major general (pictured), was appointed as army chief to succeed Ibrahim Attahiru, who died in a plane crash in May.
His appointment sparked a lot of controversies because his seniors are still in active service — although this has been the tradition.
There were also reports that many generals — who are of Course 35 and Course 36 — would be forced to retire to clear path for the new army chief, who is of the Course 37 set.
But addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Onyeuko said not a single army officer has retired because of Yahaya’s appointment.
“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new chief of army staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya,” NAN quoted him to have said.
Newly-appointed Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya
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“This has stirred up a lot of rumours in the media about mass retirements in the military.
“I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only on a voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so.
“At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command.”
Some of the officers said to have retired are from southern Nigeria including Benjamin Ahanotu, chief of policy and plan at the army headquarters who is from Anambra state.
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