BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO
9News Nigeria has gone deep through our investigative team led by Princely Onyenwe to UNVEIL the situation surrounding the recent APPOINTMENT of the Army Chief of Staff Major General FAROUK YAHAHA.
The notion therefore that the recent appointment of the Army Chief of Staff in the person of FAROUK YAHAHA may lead to the forceful retirement of some of the serving MILITARY officers said to have higher rank than him is apparent.
Our source told us that according to statistics, at least ten Major-Generals from the C35, 35 and 36 Regular Courses are still serving in the Nigerian Army while FAROUK was in course C7.
However, about 10 Nigerian Army Major-Generals may have to retire from the service following the emergence of Major-General Farouk Yahaya as the 22nd Chief of the Army Staff.
President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Yahaya on Thursday to replace the late Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, who died alongside 10 other military officers in a military aircraft crash in Kaduna few days ago.
Our source however revealed that Yahaya, who until his appointment was the theatre commander of operation Hadan Kai (formerly Lafiya Dole) in the North-East is from 37 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy while his predecessor, the late Attahiru was from the Course 35.
There are at least 10 Major-Generals from the 35 and 36 Regular Courses still in the Nigerian Army according to records.
Some of the senior military officers from Regular Course 35 include the current army’s Chief of Policy and Plan, Major General Ben Ahanotu. Although he is from Anambra State Nigeria.
Also, the army’s Chief of Administration is Major General A.M. Aliyu of Regular Course 36 is from Gombe State.
Yahaya, now 55 years, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990.
There are also Yahaya’s course mates such as Major General Ibrahim Yusuf of Regular Course 37 from Yobe State.
He is the army’s Chief of Operation and former Force Commander Multinational Joint Taskforce.
When Buhari appointed the present crop of service chiefs only in January, no fewer than 20 generals from the three services who were members of courses 34 and 35 were retired to pave way for them, our source hinted.
They were course mates with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor from Course 34; late Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru from Course 35; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral A.Z Gambo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, also from Course 35- C35.
Futhermore, it is worthy of note that the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Faruk Yahaya, a major general, was born on January 5, 1966 in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto state.
Mr Yahaya, who is a member of the 37 Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), started his cadet training on September 27, 1985 and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps on September 22, 1990.
Mr Yahaya has held several appointments including Staff, Instructional and Command.
Notable among the appointments held by the new COAS are Garrison Commander Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
He also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya).
He was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the COAS, Mr Yahaya was the Theatre Commander Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
The new COAS is a proud holder of several honours and awards, some of which include, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star, Grand Service Star, Passed staff course (Dagger), National Defence Course (Chile), Economic Community of West Africa State Monitoring Group Medal, Command Medal, Field Command Medal, General Operations Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
He is happily married and blessed with children.
Congratulations!!
9News Nigeria (Owerri)
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