Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya
Following the appointment of Farouk Yahaya as Nigeria’s Chief Of Army Staff, the Nigeria Army has forced 29 Generals to compulsory retirement to balance the scales within the Army’s hierarchy.
According to a report by Premium Times, the forceful retirement of the generals contradicts the claim by the Defence Headquarters last week that none of its personnel had been retired following the appointment of Mr Yahaya, who belonged to Regular Course 37.
Mr Yahaya, a Major-General, from Sokoto State, was appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 27 following the death of his predecessor, Ibrahim Attahiru, who died alongside 10 other casualties aboard a Military Aircraft while on an official assignment to Kaduna.
In the wake of Farouk’s appointment, rumours had begun to rent the air that between 30 and 45 generals, who are his seniors, may be forced into compulsory retirement.
The senior generals belong to Regular Courses 35 and 36.
It is customary in the military that when a junior is appointed as a service chief, senior officers, who are ahead of him or her, would have to proceed on retirement.
The logic is that it is an aberration for senior military personnel to take orders from their juniors.
However, the Defence Headquarters, had dismissed rumours of massive retirement within its hierarchy. According to them, senior officers were usually not compelled to retire prematurely, but were allowed to do so voluntarily.
The Nigerian Army said the high command had yet to authorise the retirement of any officer.
Also, the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, a Brigadier-General, who spoke with newsmen last week, said retirement of senior officers from the military was always voluntary.
“At this point, you are all aware of the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya,” Mr Onyeuko said.
“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.”
However, despite this flagrant denial by the Defence Headquarters, a memo referenced by Premium Times indicates that a total of 29 Army major generals have been approved to proceed on terminal leave, which will translate to their eventual retirement.
Their retirement comes less than a fortnight after the appointment of Mr Yahaya as the Army Chief.
According to the memo, the 29 generals, from regular course 36 have been approved to proceed on terminal leave.
Among the generals are J.B Olawumi, J.O. Akomolafe, C.O. Ude, G. Oyefesobi, M.O. Uzoh, C.C. Okonkwo and M.S.A. Aliyu.
Others are U.M. Mohammed, B.M. Ashafa, N.E. Angbazo, Y.P. Auta and S.A. Yaro. (See the full list below).
Their leave was approved with effect from June 1, 2021.
The memo, however, did not contain information about major generals from the regular course 35, who are also Mr Yahaya seniors.
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Below is the full list of generals proceeding on retirement:
1. JB Olawumi
2. JO Akomolafe
3. CO Ude
4. G Oyefesobi
5. MO Uzoh
6. CC Okonkwo
7. MSA Aliyu
8. UM Mohammed
9. BM Shafa
10. NE Angbazo
11. YP Auta
12. SA Yaro
13. J Sarham
14. HE Ayamasoawei
15. OF Azinta
16. BA Akinroluyo
17. KAY Isiyaku
18. AT Hamman
19. AM Aliyu
20. HPZ Vintienagba
21. HR Momoh
22. JR Unuigbe
23. AA Jidda
24. OI Uzomere
25. MH Magaji
26. LA Adegboye
27. MA Masanawa
28. OA Akinyemi
29. AM Dauda
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