Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Faruk Yahaya on May 29, 2021, the president has finally approved the retirement of 29 army generals who are seniors to the new COAS.
Yahaya succeeded Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, who died with 10 other military officers in a plane crash on May 21.
Relying on military tradition that senior generals do not work under a new COAS that is junior, the media speculated that 45 military generals who belong to Regular Courses 35 and 36, would be retired. Yahaya belongs to course 37.
The Defence Headquarters last week at a press briefing, denied the speculation that any senior officer would be retired, claiming that such retirement was voluntary.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Bernard Onyeuko, a brigadier general had told journalists that “I wish to use this medium to dispel such unfounded rumours as retirement is only on a voluntary basis for senior officers who desire to do so. At this point, no retirements have been authorised by the military high command.”
However, a memo sighted by PREMIUM TIMES indicates that a total of 29 Army major generals from regular course 36 had been approved to proceed on terminal leave, paving way for their eventual retirement.
The generals whose leave is with effect from June 1 include J.B Olawumi, J.O. Akomolafe, C.O. Ude, G. Oyefesobi, M.O. Uzoh, C.C. Okonkwo and M.S.A. Aliyu, U.M. Mohammed, B.M. Ashafa, N.E. Angbazo, Y.P. Auta and S.A. Yaro.
The memo was silent on major generals from the regular course 35, who are also Mr Yahaya seniors.
The full list of generals proceeding on retirement is stated below:
- JB Olawumi
- JO Akomolafe
- CO Ude
- G Oyefesobi
- MO Uzoh
- CC Okonkwo
- MSA Aliyu
- UM Mohammed
- BM Shafa
- NE Angbazo
- YP Auta
- SA Yaro
- J Sarham
- HE Ayamasoawei
- OF Azinta
- BA Akinroluyo
- KAY Isiyaku
- AT Hamman
- AM Aliyu
- HPZ Vintienagba
- HR Momoh
- JR Unuigbe
- AA Jidda
- OI Uzomere
- MH Magaji
- LA Adegboye
- MA Masanawa
- OA Akinyemi
- AM Dauda
