By Aiyeku Timothy
In 2015, no fewer than 25 Generals were given six weeks to voluntarily retire from the Nigerian Armed Forces following the then appointment of Major General Tukur Buratai as Chief of Army Staff. Burutai, who took over from Lt. General Kenneth Minimah.
By army tradition, the affected Generals cannot serve under a junior officer to them and must mandatorily go home.
History is repeating itself in 2021, As President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Burutai (course 29) among other service chiefs and appointing a new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, who is a member of regular course 35.
Buratai got enlisted into the Nigeria Army via the Nigeria Defence Academy on 3rd of January 1981 as a member of 29 Regular Combatant Course. He became a Second Lieutenant on 17th of December 1983.
It was gathered that the appointment of Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as COAS, who was a member of Regular 35, has affected a lot of top military officers who are above him in rank.
Shortly after Attahiru’s appointment sources revealed that no fewer than 20 generals in regiment courses 34 and 35 would retire. These are men of proven experience.
Top in the list of those expected to retire is Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations, Army headquarters.
He was promoted in 2019 to the same rank as Buratai by the President.
A retired General said: “We have the dearth of officers with experience in Liberia and Sierra Leone wars because it takes gut to fight these boys (insurgents). They use the same tactics we fought against in Sierra Leone and Liberia. It is not automatic that members of Course 34 and 35 would retire.
“Course 33 has gone, we have 34 and 35. Irabor is Course 34. Attahiru is course 35. About 20 Generals in course 34 and 35 may go, but the COAS may retain some of them. He would use his discretion. He would want his course mates to be around him. Some may be posted to the defence headquarters.”
Since becoming a COAS is by appointment, merit could be boycotted, leaving other officers of same rank unable to live their dreams.
