By James Orji
Intense lobbying has already started among top Generals in the Nigerian Army to replace Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru who died in an air crash last Friday in Kaduna, as Chief of Army Staff, COAS.
In top contention for the COAS position are Major Generals Ibrahim Manu Yusuf, a former Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, MI Aliyu of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, Benjamin Ahanotu, Danjuma Ali-Kefi, amongst others.
Before President Buhari eventually appointed the late General Attahiru in January, there were initial reports that General Hanatu Ali-Kefi had been appointed to take over from General Tukur Burutai, who retired alongside other Service Chiefs.
“There is a renewed lobby for him to become COAS after the death of his boss, by those who believe that the position must remain in the north,” an APC source said.
On his part, General Benjamin Ahanotu the Chief of Policy and Planning of Nigerian Army, who was tasked with the reading of the funeral oration of the late COAS, is also among the top contestants having occupied strategic military positions, including Acting General Officer Commanding, GOC 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, Plateau state.
Apart from the fours Generals, the magazine, learnt that various sub-national groups across the country are also lobbying leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, for the president to appoint one of their own as COAS.
For instance, the Northern social political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF while condoling with President Muhammadu Buhari on the sad incident, said the new COAS must be a competent officer who can help the country tackle the current security challenges.
The ACF, in a statement signed by its chairperson, Audu Ogbeh, said it “prays that our Lord God grants our President the wisdom to select suitable replacements for the heroes departed, particularly for the Chief of Army Staff,” because the security situation in Nigeria “calls for the best, nothing but the best.”
President Buhari, on Sunday, directed the national flag to be flown at half mast, aside declaring a public holiday for the armed forces to mark the death of the officers.
The president, it was learnt, is now faced with a serious dilemma of who to choose among these officers to occupy the position. The problems facing the president, according to Aso Rock sources, include the quest to satisfy those who believe that the new COAS should come from the south as well as others who still want the North to retain the position.
But the magazine learnt that the most important consideration of all is for the president to choose based on seniority, among the crop of qualified officers.
The list of those that have been shortlisted for the president include those in Regular Course 35 and 36 in the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Nigeria’s elite school for the military. The late General Attahiru was a member of course 35.
According to sources privy to military issues, the president’s choice will determine whether he respects the tradition in the armed forces, as anything done to the contrary could send a wrong signal to the security sector.
“For instance, if the president picks a member of Course 36 as COAS, what that means is that his seniors in Course 35 will be forced to retire. This will be a great loss on the nation’s military resources, after training these Generals in top military institutions across the world, with a lot of experience to show for it,” an analyst said on Monday.
Even though the analyst requested anonymity, because of the sensitive nature of the issue and because he did not want to be seen to be taking sides, he stated that President Buhari has the prerogative as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to choose any General among the packs.
Meanwhile, competent sources in the Presidency told the magazine that the president is considering making his choice among the Generals of Northern extraction to fill the position.
“It’s true that there is a serious lobby across the country on the president. But President Buhari as you know him has his own mind regardless of pressure from anywhere. And as long as he’s convinced that somebody can do the job, he will go for it. But the agitators can have their say, even though the president is not contemplating picking the new COAS outside where the former came from,” a top presidential aide said.
When asked if the president is planning to appoint any of the four Generals mentioned above, he said ” that is left to the president to decide. Yes, they are all qualified but you know Mr President, he may as usual come up with another surprise. All I can tell you is that a new COAS will be appointed soon because nature abhors vacuum.”
Meanwhile, some analysts told the magazine that President Buhari now has the opportunity to prove that he’s a detribalised leader by appointing an officer of Igbo extraction as COAS. This will also ensure that the zone is represented among the service chiefs, according to those who believe that leaving out the south east in major political appointments is fueling a serious crisis among its people, particularly, youths who believe that the area has been left out in major political decisions affecting the country.
