By Our Correspondent
President Bola Tinubu on Friday sacked all the three service chiefs, explaining that the action was part of efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.
Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye, however, retained his position.
Accordingly, the President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff; the new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu; Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
It has, however, been suggested that the firing of the service chiefs was a fallout of the rumoured coup attempt that filtered out earlier this month. The military authorities debunked the rumour as false.
The Statement read: “President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.
“The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“All appointments take immediate effect.”
