Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.
Also, the new Chief of Army Staff goes to Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff, while retaining Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye.
This efforts is to strengthen the national security architecture while the President expressed most profound appreciation to the outgoing General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.
Tinubu charged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria while all appointments take immediate effect.
On X, Senator Shehu Sani in his reaction said “Periodic changes in the leadership structure of our security services are essential in order to achieve results.
“The lack of courage to do this in the past partly attributed to the failures of the nation’s battle against insecurity.
“For us in Kaduna, we appreciate the service and stewardship of the outgoing CDS General Musa. We are proud of his accomplishments. We Wish him well in his future endeavours”, he concluded.
Reno Omokri on X said, “The changes made by President Tinubu amongst the service chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are commendable.
“Not only do they display a religious balance, but they also reflect an ethnic and geopolitical balance, showing a deliberate effort by President committed to giving every part of Nigeria a sense of belonging.
“At the top, we have General Olufemi Oluyede, a Christian from Ekiti State, as Chief of Defence Staff. He is followed by Major-General Waidi Shaibu, a Muslim from the North-Central, as Chief of Army Staff.
“Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the new Chief of Air Staff, is a Christian from Enugu State, while Rear Admiral Idi Abbas is a Muslim from Kano State and is the new Chief of Naval Staff.
“Additionally, Major General Emmanuel Udiandeye, a Christian from Cross River State, retains his role as Chief of Defence Intelligence”.
Omokri pointed out that with these appointments, no geopolitical zone in Nigeria is left out of the leadership of vital military, paramilitary, and intelligence agencies.He added, “especially when considering that the National Security Adviser, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the CEO of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit are all from the Northeast.
Omokri stated that for a religiously, ethnically, and culturally heterogeneous nation like Nigeria, it takes a thinking leader to walk the tightropes and ensure that everyone has a place and that there is a place for everyone.
He commended the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, for his sagacity and vision, and prayed that God will help the new service chiefs to perform at their best for Nigeria.
Mazi.NnaEmeka with the handle @EmmyPromise71 said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated that leadership is about taking tough decisions for the greater good of the nation. He added that by reshuffling the Service Chiefs, the President has reinforced his commitment to strengthening the security architecture of this country and ensuring that the Armed Forces remain battle-ready in the face of internal and external threats.
According to him, “Our military faces evolving challenges; from terrorism and insurgency in the North-East, to banditry, oil theft, and secessionist violence in other parts of the country.
“What Nigeria needs are fresh minds, renewed energy, and a leadership team that is not only competent but also hungry to deliver results.
“President Tinubu understands that security is foundation of development. There can be no economic progress, no foreign investment, and no unity in diversity without stability and order.“By appreciating the outgoing Service Chiefs for their service, simultaneously demanding greater professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship from the newly appointed commanders, Tinubu has set a high standard of accountability.
“The message is clear: every officer must justify the confidence reposed in them. Nigerians want results, and under the Renewed Hope Agenda, results are the only acceptable outcome.
“This decision will spark debates, as always, but history will remember it as another bold step of a President who refuses to play politics with national security.
“Those who criticize should be asked a simple question: would you rather maintain the status quo and pretend that all is well, or make the hard choices that can secure a safer Nigeria for future generations?
“With this move, President Tinubu has reminded Nigerians that leadership is about courage, not comfort. The Armed Forces now have the mandate to rise to the occasion. Nigeria cannot afford excuses anymore, and thankfully, we have a Commander-in -Chief who understands that”, he concluded.
