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The newly appointed acting Chief of Army Staff (AG COAS), Maj. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, assured his commitment to his role as the head of the Nigerian Army in an acting capacity on Friday.
Gen. Oluyede was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, pending the return of the substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who is currently indisposed and on medical leave outside the country.
Speaking at a brief ceremony at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja during the presentation of the handing-over note to him, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa explained that the appointment of the acting Chief of Army Staff is a new development in the annals of the Nigerian military.
Gen. Musa disclosed that since President Bola Tinubu, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, made this decision in line with the laws that established the military, it should remain as such.
He then charged the officers of the Service to support the acting COAS in continuing the legacy laid down by the substantive COAS, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, in the national interest, stating that “the Nigerian military cannot afford to relent now because adversaries are also planning ahead of the festive period.”
According to Gen. Musa, “I’m not sure where we are, but today’s event is something that is new and has never happened in the history of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“The President and I met with the authorities. We have decided and directed the appointment of an acting Chief of Army Staff with the full power to lead the Army until the President decides otherwise.”
Gen. Musa, citing the laws that established the armed forces to corroborate this new development, explained that the military, being a professional force, must continue its tasks in the face of the security challenges facing the country.
He added, “No doubt, based on the challenges we have in the country and the wisdom of the President, Commander-in-Chief, today we present the authority to the Acting Chief of Army Staff for him to have full control and command of the Nigerian Army.
“With this appointment, the responsibilities of administering the Nigerian Army now rest on you. Your responsibilities are wide and varied and cannot be covered in this administrative note. This note is only an administrative procedure.
“Following this, all shall yield to your new responsibility and begin immediately to administer the affairs of the Nigerian Army. It is expected that at the end of this formal event, you will be extensively briefed by the Chief of Policy and Plans Army and other Principal Staff Officers, as well as the Reserves of the Army according to the course of your duties.
“Accordingly, you must note that your installation was based on your vast knowledge of military leadership at all levels, character, and competence.
“You are a member of a larger team of professional soldiers responsible for defending the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by land, sea, and air, as captured in our Constitution.”
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He charged all officers to support the acting COAS in continuing the legacy laid by the substantive COAS, adding that the Nigerian military cannot afford to relent now because adversaries are also planning ahead of the festive period.
He stated, “It is, therefore, expected of you to consolidate and improve on the achievements of the substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.A. Lagbaja, as well as past Chiefs of Army Staff, in order to sustain the high level of professionalism, discipline, resilience, and regimentation that the Nigerian Army is known for all over the world.
“Nigeria is going through several challenges, and we need all hands on deck. This is one main reason why the President, Commander-in-Chief, decided to appoint the acting Chief of Army Staff so that there will be continuity and to avoid any gap.
“We cannot afford to lay back and allow insecurity to continue to prevail. It is important that we all understand this clearly and give the acting Chief of Army Staff all the support to ensure his success. General Lagbaja is someone we all know, a regimented and fine officer.
“The President would not want any gap to occur in his absence, which is why this event is taking place. I want to count on all of us; whatever issues we have in mind, whatever opinions, please put them aside. Nigeria must survive.
“The armed forces must survive. The services must survive. That is the paramount call. I would like everyone to put their hands on deck and let us succeed.
“To all our commanders out in the field, the challenges are there. We commend them for all their efforts. We know they are performing wonders. We urge them not to relent. The bandits, the terrorists, and the criminals are not relenting. We must not relent.
“As we move towards December and the festive period, we know the challenges that will arise. We need to take all necessary measures to ensure that Nigeria remains peaceful. So I want to thank all of you for coming.
“I want to assure you that we are working as a team because that’s what makes the difference. We must continue to work as a team. We must make Nigeria safe. The Commander-in-Chief has given us that mandate in clear terms.
“And every time we meet, he reiterates that clearly; he does not want any rancor between us. We must work together as a team. I count on each one of you, both individually and collectively, to ensure that our commanders out there in the field are doing what they are supposed to do and that we provide them with the necessary support. Thank you very much for coming, and God bless us all.”
In his brief remarks, Gen. Oluyede promised to continue with the legacy of the substantive COAS and not let the military or the nation down.
While admitting that the event was not the usual procedure, he said, “Because we have an unusual situation, we have to treat it as such.”
He assured the President of his loyalty and pledged to fully support the substantive Chief of Army Staff during his recovery.
According to him, “My appointment as the Acting Chief of Army Staff is simply the right thing to do. I met with the Chief of Army Staff to enable him to take sufficient time to receive necessary medical attention and preparations.
“And that I intend to do with my whole heart, as well as in support of Mr. President,” he stated to senior military officers.
The Chief of Defence Staff held a closed-door meeting on Thursday with the National Security Adviser to the President, NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, along with the acting COAS ahead of Friday’s assumption of office.
