Cancels trip
to Niger
President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the tenure of the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin and the service chiefs: the Chief
of
Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal
Sadique Abubakar and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The
development came contrary to the expectations that the president would appoint
new officers to take over from them since their constitutionally recognised
tenure had expired and also use the new appointments to redraw the security
architecture of the country said to have suffered lopsided geo-ethnic
interests. The president’s letter to this
effect was released in a statement, yesterday evening, through the Minister of
Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali.
The
statement by the Public Relations Officer, Col. Tukur Gusau, on behalf of the
Minister in Abuja, yesterday said the president’s review of the ongoing
military operations in the northeast and the Niger Delta region and the efforts
put in place by the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs made him
approve the extension.
The
statement reads: “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, having carefully
reviewed the ongoing military operations across the nation and the efforts of
the Chief of Defence staff and the Service chiefs in the counter insurgency
operations in the North East coupled with the security situation of the Niger
Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of
General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant
General Tukur Yusufu Buratai ,Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe
Ibas, the Chief of Naval staff and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief
of Air staff.
“This
extension is pursuant of the powers conferred on the President and
Commander-in- chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by
section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service
for officers (2012) Revised.
“The
Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali therefore congratulates the Chief
of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for earning the confidence of the
President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service,” the
statement noted.
Meanwhile,
the President yesterday put off a scheduled trip to Niger. President Buhari was
scheduled to attend the 59th Proclamation of Republic of Niger ceremony in
Tahoua, Niger.Giving reasons for the cancellation, Senior Special Assistant on
media and publicity Garba Shehu said President Buhari felt satisfied that he
had useful discussions with his friend and brother, President Mahamadou
Issoufou in the course of the weekend meeting in Abuja, of the Economic
Community of West African States, (ECOWAS).
He said
“after a phone call last night between the leaders, President Buhari decided to
send a delegation made up of the three governors of Katsina, Yobe and Borno
states along with the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs to represent him.”
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