President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday approved the extension of tenures of the Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff contrary to expectations by Nigerians that new officers would be appointed to bring about new tactics in the fight against insurgents in the country.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali who confirmed the approval in a statement by his Public Relations Officer in Abuja, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said that the President extended the tenures having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the country.
He however, did not specify the duration of the extension, but stated that the CDS, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin, the Army Chief, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Air Chief, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas will continue in office.
This development has put to rest, high expectations that the President would appoint new officers to take over from them since their constitutionally recognized tenure had variously expired.
The letter read: “The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, having carefully reviewed the on-going military operations across the nation and the efforts of the Chief of Defence staff and the Service Chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the North East, coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval staff and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air staff.