Huge celebrations erupted in military barracks in some parts of the country, as news of the sacking of the former Service Chiefs on Tuesday came in and with their replacements being announced.
A couple of the Nigerian Navy personnel in their barracks believed to be in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were spotted screaming in jubilation and dancing in merriment over this development in a 20 second video (below).
New Service Chiefs were called to appointment by President Mohammed Buhari as he at last, fired the Chief of Defence, Chief General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, after all four of them have exactly spent five years and five months in office.
Buhari had however highlighted on Tuesday of his acceptance of their letters of resignation, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, made clarification in times past that the military Chiefs could not resign and had to be laid off by the Commander-In-Chief.
Special Adviser to Buhari, Femi Adesina, said the newly appointed service chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor as the CDS; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as the Army Chief; Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo as the Naval Chief and Air-Vice Marshal I. O. Amao as the new Air Chief.
This was made known on Tuesday in a State House press release.
One of the navy personnel in the video said this; “People dey happy say they don change CNS o,” “Who will not be happy that they were replaced? It was long overdue, they had become principalities and they had brought to a stand still the career progression. I don’t think they resigned, they were sacked.
"The three service chiefs were supposed to visit the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Ship House, on Tuesday afternoon but the meeting was cancelled in the last minute when the announcement filtered into the country,” a top official of the Ministry of Defence discloses
Olonisakin has been serving since 1999, this makes him the longest serving CDS. Admiral Ibrahim Ogohi (retd.), having served for four years and 29 days between May 29, 1999 and June 27, 2003 is closest to him.
Buratai is also the longest serving COAS since 1999. Closest to him was Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), who served three years and four months in office; between September 2010 and January 2014.
Ibas is also the longest serving CNS since 1999, while the closest person to him was Vice Admiral S. O. Afolayan, who served for four years, between 2001 and 2005.
JOURNAL REPORTERS in their findings last week observed that the outgoing military chiefs had awarded to themselves four Sport Utility Vehicles, four Peugeot vehicles, among others as retirement benefits to themselves, according to the 2017 Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Officers, revised by their administration.
JOURNAL REPORTERS, however, has obtained the new HTACOS 2017 which revealed that the military Chiefs will get security staff of over 40 soldiers as well as domestic and foreign medical cover.
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Reviewed by Okenwa Chinedu
on
January 27, 2021
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Correction, from 2015 to Jan 2021 5yrs 5 months
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