A major redeployment of top generals in the Nigerian Army is imminent, following the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
A Daily Trust’s report has suggested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would soon pronounce the newly promoted Lieutenant General Oluyede as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.
This, the report said, would be subjected to the confirmation of the Senate, after which there might be reshuffling in the army.
A top military officer, who does not want his name in print because mourning was still ongoing and he wasn’t authorised to speak to the media, explained that some of the coursemates of Oluyede would be redeployed to the Defence Headquarters, the report said.
When asked of how many generals were likely to be retired, he added that none of the 39 Regular Course would be asked to retire but some would also be taken to some of the service institutions of the military to serve.
“As it stands now, the CDS course mates, 38 RC had all proceeded on retirement since last year after Lagbaja and other service chiefs’ appointments but many members of 39 RC are still in the service. Some of them would only be redeployed,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, governors and other prominent Nigerians yesterday mourned the demise of Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja.
As a result of his death, the president ordered indefinite postponement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting billed to hold on Wednesday.
This, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was done to honour the deceased who was said to have died on Tuesday night in Lagos after a brief illness.
President Tinubu, who said that a new date for the meeting would be announced later, stated that he regretted to announce the passage of the top military officer.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and other cabinet members were already seated when the president took the decision.
The VP, who announced the president’s decision, called for a minute of silence from cabinet members in honour of the late army chief.
Earlier on Wednesday, Onanuga explained that the president expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Lagbaja’s family and the Nigerian Armed Forces over his demise.
Confirming Lagbaja’s death, the Presidency said the deceased, who was survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children, would sorely be missed because of his contributions to the Nigeria’s armed forces and the nation at large.
Tinubu had earlier on Tuesday, promoted Olufemi Oluyede, a Major-General to the rank of Lieutenant General less than one week after appointing him as acting Chief of Army Staff.
Oluyede formally took over the leadership of the Nigerian Army in acting capacity last Friday where the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, lamented that the position of the acting COAS was new to the military tradition.
