BY GODWIN OBI
The Presidency has clarified the rationale behind President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sack and replace Nigeria’s service chiefs, describing the move as part of efforts to inject fresh energy and direction into the nation’s military leadership.
Reacting to speculation that the shake-up was linked to a rumored coup plot, the Presidency dismissed such claims, insisting that the changes were purely administrative and within the President’s constitutional authority.
“The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He has the power to hire and fire service chiefs at any time,” said the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday.
President Tinubu had earlier announced sweeping changes in the military hierarchy.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, General Olufemi Oluyede was appointed as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.
Other new appointees include Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Dare noted that the appointments took immediate effect, with President Tinubu urging the new service chiefs to “justify the confidence reposed in them by deepening professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship across the armed forces.”
The announcement followed shortly after an online publication alleged that some military officers had plotted to overthrow the Tinubu administration — a claim swiftly dismissed by the Defence Headquarters.
In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, described the report as false and mischievous, saying it was “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”
He clarified that the cancellation of the Independence Day military parade was “purely administrative,” while the detained officers mentioned in the report were being investigated for “issues of indiscipline.”
Despite the official denial, the timing of the service chiefs’ removal — just days after the coup report — continued to raise public curiosity.
Addressing the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, reaffirmed that Tinubu’s decision was not reactionary but a strategic reset aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of ongoing security operations across the country.
“This is not a reaction to any rumor of coups. The President is simply exercising his constitutional powers. The service chiefs have done two years, and it is time to inject new direction, vision, and vigor into the military,” Ajayi said.
He noted that Nigeria continues to confront diverse security challenges, including Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, IPOB/ESN activities in the South-East, kidnapping in the South-West, and communal crises in the North-Central.
Ajayi further explained that the shake-up aligns with Tinubu’s broader vision to recalibrate national security spending and refocus resources on critical infrastructure.
“In the last 15 years, security has consumed the largest chunk of our national budget. The President wants to tackle insecurity decisively so that funds can be better deployed to key sectors like power, roads, broadband, education, and healthcare,” he added.
He stressed that all political and military appointees serve at the President’s discretion.
“Every appointee of government — whether a minister, head of agency, or service chief — serves at the pleasure of the President. Nobody has a guaranteed tenure except the President and Vice President,” Ajayi said.
ADVERTISEMENTS
