The Presidency has clarified that the removal of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other service chiefs is a routine exercise aimed at strengthening national security.
Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare stated this in an interview with DAILY POST on Friday, following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of the new security appointments earlier in the day.
General Musa has been replaced by Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff. Other appointments include Major General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Dare explained that such changes are within the President’s constitutional powers as Commander-in-Chief.
“This is routine, meant to boost security across the nation. The Commander-in-Chief can at any time make these changes to both ministerial and service chiefs. In the same way, commanding officers of mechanised divisions can be moved or removed,” he said.
The reshuffle in the military hierarchy comes amid unverified rumours of a possible coup, which both the Presidency and the Nigerian Army have dismissed as false.
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