UPDATE; Finally Buhari Appoints New Service Chiefs

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday finally appointed new service chiefs for the country. 

 The new service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as Chief of Air Staff. 

 The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘President Buhari appoints new service chiefs’. 

 It read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service. 

 “Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. 

 “President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their ‘overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,’ wishing them well in their future endeavors. 

 “The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defense Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff. 

 “The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.” 

 There has been clamour for the President to replace the service chiefs who he appointed in 2015 in order to inject fresh blood into the system.