By The appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff, on Thursday, by President Muhammadu Buhari is the biggest news in the country at the moment.
Yahaya, who was until his appointment, the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, succeeded the former COAS, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna, alongside 10 others.
According to The Punch, the emergence of the new COAS would result in the forceful retirement of about 25 major generals who were his seniors. Whilst Yahaya is of Course 37, these officers were of Course 35 and Course 36 — meaning that he cannot superintend over them following military tradition.
Yahaya’s appointment, the newspaper said, had religion and ethnic underpinnings. The President was said to have delayed the appointment of the new COAS, who is from Sokoto State, due to these factors.
“The President finally settled for Yahaya because many of the Generals in Regular Courses 35 and 36 were found to be from the same tribe or same state as other security chiefs in the Ministry of Defence, National Security Adviser’s office, the Navy and the Air Force,” a source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“For instance, Major General. Jamil Sarham, of Regular Course 36, former Commandant Nigerian Defence Academy is from Kano, where the Minister of Defence, Major General. Bashir Magashi (retd.) and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, hail from.”
The new COAS will be the eleventh person to occupy the coveted office since 1999.
