Following Tuesday’s statement by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, that some individuals have been approaching top Army officers and soldiers for political reasons, DAILY POST has gathered that the recent redeployment in the Nigerian Army was not unconnected with the alarm.
Buratai, our correspondent learnt, had vowed to crush any coup plot against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Recall that Buhari, again on May 7, travelled to London for medical treatment.
Just hours after he left Nigeria, Buratai, it was learnt, requested to see the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo urgently.
At the meeting in the presidential villa, Abuja, Buratai was said to have presented Osinbajo with intelligence that some prominent politicians were hobnobbing with Army officers and soldiers in a bid to compromise them.
Osinbajo, it was gathered, thanked Buratai and said he trusted the Army Chief to put his officers and soldiers in check.
Buratai responded by pledging his loyalty to the Buhari administration and hinted that he would carry out “immediate changes”, to counter any plan to topple government.
Meanwhile, there are concerns over the safety of Acting President Osinbajo and it is believed that he would have reached out to his principal over the alarming security reports.
DAILY POST contacted the presidency for reaction Tuesday night.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, did not take calls put to his mobile phone Tuesday night.
However, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he was not aware of Buratai’s statement.
“A statement by the Army Chief? I’m just hearing this. Unfortunately, I’m not in the country at the moment so I cannot comment”.
Shehu did not disclose his current location.
Recall that on May 10, three days after Buhari jetted out, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement said “In a bid to re-strategize, the Nigerian Army has posted in 147 officers into Operation LAFIYA DOLE, some Divisions, formations and training schools”.
In a posting released by the Office of the Military Secretary (Army), Major General RO Yusuf, Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, is now the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, while Major General A Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, moves to Army Headquarters as Chief of Logistics (COLOG).
Major General AM Dikko was posted from the Office of the National Security Adviser to 1 Division as GOC, while Major General I Attahiru is now the Theatre Commander, Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Major General LEO Irabor moves to Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), as the Field Commander.
Major General PJ Dauke has been posted from 3 Division to 81 Division as GOC and Brigadier General BI Ahanotu will be Acting GOC 3 Division.
Erstwhile Registrar of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Brigadier General IM Yusuf is now the Acting GOC 7 Division and Brigadier General SO Olabanji, the Commandant of Amphibious Training School Calabar, is now the Acting GOC 8 Task Force Division.
The GOC 81 Division, Major General EB Oyefolu, is now the Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kontagora, while Brigadier General MG Ali, was moved to Nigerian Army Special Forces School Buni Yadi, as Commandant from NATRAC.
Brigadier General IM Obot is Brigade Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, while Brigadier General AO Quadri was moved from the Office of the Chief of Army Staff to 25 Task Force Brigade as Commander.
Also those affected were some Commanders and Staff Officers at the Defence, Army Headquarters and Brigades.
In reaction, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that the latest Nigerian Army shake-up is political and was aimed at undermining Osinbajo.
He said: “It is not by accident that every single security agency in Nigeria today is headed by a northern Muslim except for the Navy.
“And now for the first time since 1999, a northern Muslim has been appointed GOC of the all powerful and critical 1st Division which covers the north west.
“Another has just been appointed to head the Lagos Garrison and Ikeja cantonment.
“Finally, all of Osinbajo’s security team have been changed except for his ADC. Most of the Yorubas have been withdrawn and he is now being guarded by only northerners.
“He would have lost his ADC too but he objected strongly to that one and they left him. The man needs our support and prayers.
“Every Yoruba man and southerner, regardless of party affiliation, owes him and the south that much.
“There is one more thing that I know which will shock Nigerians but I will not say it now.
“It is unbelievable and shocking and when you hear it you will all appreciate the sheer humiliation that Osinbajo has been put through since PMB’s return from UK and before he went back”
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