Fresh details have emerged on why President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, relieved the nation’s Service Chiefs of their duties on Friday.
Findings by militarynewsng.com revealed that the decision followed intelligence reports surrounding an alleged coup plot recently foiled by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
According to authoritative sources, the President’s meeting with the Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, initially convened for the submission of a report on the aborted coup, took a different turn shortly after the top military officers arrive Aso Rock.
Shortly after thir arrival, President Tinubu announced his intention to “clear the top hierarchy” of the military to allow some senior officers to move up.
Coup Plot Report Triggered Shake-Up
It was learnt that the President’s decision was influenced by confidential intelligence reports from the Defence Intelligence Agency and expert security advice over the alleged coup attempt.
Although details of th confidential report was not made available to militarynewsng.com, it was gathered that the president wanted to spare thee service chiefs, “the intelligence made available to the President and the advice he received from top security experts changed everything,” the source said.
Reliable sources disclosed that the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, will now submit the coup report to the President at a later date.
Further findings revealed that General Olufemi Oluyede, estwhile Chif of Army Staff and Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), were retained by the President because of the crucial roles they played in thwarting the coup attempt and ensuring the arrest of those involved.
It was also gathered that the President commended the DIA boss for his swift intelligence response and professionalism during the crisis, a factor that contributed to his retention in office.
Trust in Musa, but Military Balance Needed
Although President Tinubu was said to have a soft spot for the former CDS, General Musa, he reportedly decided to replace him to maintain institutional balance within the Armed Forces.
Sources explained that keeping General Musa, a member of the 39th Regular Course, while appointing officers from the 40th and 41st Regular Courses as Service Chiefs, would have triggered mass retirements among senior officers.
“It was purely a strategic decision,” a top military source stated. “The President had confidence in General Musa, but leaving him in office would have created structural imbalance within the military hierarchy.”
Massive Retirement Expected
With the appointment of new Service Chiefs, analysts predict a wave of premature retirements, particularly in the Nigerian Army, which is expected to be most affected by the shake-up.
