Ihejirika
Few days after the military announced the retirement of 51 senior officers, indications have emerged that Major General Kenneth T.J. Minimah, may be confirmed as the new Chief of Army Staff later this year.
If that happens, he will replace the incumbent Lt-General Azubuike Ihejirika whose appointment in September 2010, led to the retirements of many officers.
A source revealed that the recent disengagement of the high-ranking officers was a step in preparing the grounds for Minimah’s elevation.
Speaking further, he said “More officers who could be potential contenders for the Army chief’s position will be weeded out this year so as to clear the coast for Minimah.”
“The plan is to allow Ihejirika stay for one more year or so to enable Minimah rise in rank. Every general who is a potential contender for the post of Army chief would have been retired by then.”
“That is why Major General MD Isa was quickly removed as commandant of Jaji after the blast without any board of inquiry. The same with General Joseph Soboiki of the 1 Mechanised Division. Both have now been retired,” he added.
The Army Director of Information, Major General Koleoso had in an interview with newsmen, debunked rumor that the retirement of the officers had religious and ethnic sentiment.
He noted that the compulsory retirement is enforced under the ‘Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Nigeria Armed Forces Officers 2007 (Revised)’, based on which major generals have to go at age 56, brigadier generals at age 54 and colonels 52.
Minimah, an indigene of Cross River State, has been the General Officer Commanding the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos since 2010. He is a member of the Regular Cadet Course 25 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on December 18, 1981.
He was the Brigade Commander of the 1 Brigade, Sokoto. An infantry officer, he was promoted to the rank of Major General in January 2011.
Although there are other officers who are senior to Minimah from Course 24, they will be disengaged, should the candidate be elevated.
The senior officers are GOC of the 1 Mechanised Division, Major General Garba Wahab; Major General Monguno of the Defence Headquarters; Major General Emeka of the Nigerian Defence Academy; Major General Ngubani of the Army Headquarters; Major General J.O Nwaogbo, Major General MB Ibrahim; Major General Emmanuel Bassey and Director of Defence Intelligence Major General S.Y. Audu.
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