Buhari Considers National Interest To Appoint New Army Chief

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Saturday, May 29th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari considered national interest above ethnicity in the appointment of Faruk Yahaya as the new chief of army staff.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had appointed Yahaya a major-general, on Thursday to replace Ibrahim Attahiru, the army chief who died in a plane crash.

Prior to his appointment, Yahaya was the theatre commander of the counter-terrorism military outfit in the north-east which is code-named operation Hadin Kai.

Some critics had accused the president of being biased with the appointment. However, Magashi, in a statement through Mohammad Abdulkadri, his spokesperson, disclosed that Yahaya was appointed based on merit and his track records.

“He is an organic infantry general who is tested and trusted to actualise the national aspirations to restore peace in the dark spots and areas of insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry, as well as other allied threats to the nation’s corporate existence,” he said.

“With the appointment of General Yahaya, President Buhari has expediently put national interest above ethnic and religious chauvinism by fulfilling all requirements necessary. These include his unblemished track records of service, professional, command, and operational competencies among other yardsticks that culminated into his emergence as most suitably qualified new army boss.”

The minister applauded Buhari “for the well thought-out strategic appointment of Yahaya as a replacement for the late Attahiru”.

According to him, Yahaya’s capability in sustaining the trajectory of taking offensive and aggressive campaigns to the camps, corridors, and cells of the adversaries to obliterate them.