President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wednesday, approved the appointment of Major-General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as the acting chief of army staff (COAS).
The appointment came after a month-long absence of the substantive COAS, Lt.-General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who was said to be away on his annual leave.
There were conflicting reports on Lagbaja’s state of health, with the military headquarters saying the army chief was abroad for medical treatment.
His non-appearance from public space fuelled death rumour which the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) quickly debunked.
And not long ago, precisely last week, the DHQ also dismissed reports that an acting COAS had been appointed in place of Lagbaja.
Debunking the report in a statement Monday 21, October, Director Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, said there was no provision for an acting Chief of Army Staff in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Gusau clarified that the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Abdulsalam Ibrahim, was only providing routine briefs to the Chief of Army Staff under the Standard Operating Procedures.
He said: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that it has not announced the appointment of any senior officer as Acting Chief of Army Staff, contrary to speculation by certain media outlets. For the record, no such appointment exists within the AFN.”
…Acting army chief named
And to clear the air, President Tinubu, according to a statement by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced Major General Oluyede as the acting army chief.
Onanuga said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appointed Major General Olufemi Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
“Oluyede will act in the position pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.
“Until his appointment, Oluyede served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna. The 56-year-old Oluyede and Lagbaja were course mates and members of the 39th Regular Course.
“He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992, effective from 1987. He rose to Major-General in September 2020.
“Oluyede has held many command positions since his commissioning as an officer. He was Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer Guards Brigade, Commandant Amphibious Training School.
“General Oluyede participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East theatre of operations, where he commanded 27 Task Force Brigade.
“Oluyede has earned many honours for his meritorious service in various fields of operations. These include the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, Passing the Staff Course, and Membership in the National Institute.
“Others are the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, and the Field Training Medal. Oluyede also received the coveted Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award. He is married and has three children.”
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