President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday sacked the nation’s military service chiefs except the Chief of Air Staff, Alex Badeh, an Air Marshal who was elevated to the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). An Aso Rock statement announced replacements for the vacant posts, saying the appointments were with immediate effect, and that the President acted in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Signed by presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, the statement noted that Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim.
The other appointments are Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, an Ijaw from Rivers state, who takes over from Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;
Kogi state-born Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, from Lagos state, takes over from Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
According to Abati, Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.
Submitting the names to the lawmakers is unprecedented but it can be recalled that prominent lawyer, Festus Keyamo, had gone to court and secured a judgement compelling the President to send his nominees for service chiefs to the National Assembly for confirmation.
The new CDS was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 21 Regular Course.
The new Army chief, Minimah, was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.
The new Chief of Naval Staff was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.
The new Chief of Air Staff, Amosu, is immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Amosu, was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.
The service chiefs were summoned to the Presidential Villa on Thursday morning where it is believed their fate was announced to them.
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