The handover event of Nigeria’s new Chief of Army Staff, Major General OO Oluyede, marked a milestone in the country’s military hierarchy. Indeed, the ceremony, which took place on Friday, November 1, was attended by top military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Photographs of the event shared by the Defence Headquarters, were captioned as “Official handover ceremony of the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General OO Oluyede.”
The appointment, confirmed by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, October 30, comes as the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, is currently unavailable.
Oluyede’s profile is remarkable. Prior to his appointment, he served as the 56th Corps Commander Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna, a position that gave him extensive leadership experience.
At 56, Oluyede has a long-standing professional relationship with Lagbaja, both being members of the 39th regular batch.
However, the transition is not without controversy. A few days earlier, the Defence Headquarters had pointed out that an acting appointment for the Chief of Army Staff was not officially recognised under the Armed Forces Harmonised Act.
Despite this, Group Captain Chris Erondu, representing the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, announced on Thursday, October 31, that the official handover would take place as scheduled.
Oluyede’s role remains in an acting capacity for the time being, pending further directives from the presidency regarding the leadership of the Nigerian Army.
This handover also provides an opportunity for Oluyede to demonstrate his leadership and management skills, and to contribute significantly to the security and stability of the country. We remain attentive to future developments and the evolving situation within the Nigerian Army.