President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the new service chiefs with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The ceremony, which began shortly after 2 pm, saw the President perform the decoration alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the decorated officers, each dressed in their respective service uniforms.
Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces.
Tinubu had earlier written to the red chamber, seeking an expedited confirmation process “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”
Our correspondent observed that the ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers, family members of the service chiefs, and top officers from the various arms of the military.
The President, Vice President, and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on each of the decorated chiefs. The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later told our correspondent that the changes were not connected to recent rumours of a coup plot, saying, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.”
On Monday, Tinubu had met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa. They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser, and the session lasted about 40 minutes.
Presidency sources said the President charged them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the North.
