The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Onyeabo Azubuike
Ihejirika, has expressed his disappointment over allegations of ethnic
cleansing and victimisation leveled against him. This was just as he promised
to address the issue next week.
Ihejirika, has expressed his disappointment over allegations of ethnic
cleansing and victimisation leveled against him. This was just as he promised
to address the issue next week.
A section of the media had raised an alarm accusing the Army
Chief of giving his kinsmen juicy appointments and of violating the Army
Council directives since his emergence as the COAS even Army authorities
faulted the allegation and disclosed that Gen Ihejirika would address the issue
soon.
Chief of giving his kinsmen juicy appointments and of violating the Army
Council directives since his emergence as the COAS even Army authorities
faulted the allegation and disclosed that Gen Ihejirika would address the issue
soon.
The new Director, Army Public Relations Department, Brig-Gen
Ibrahim Attahiru, made this disclosure while taking over from Major General
Bolaji Koleosho who himself later resumed work as the Chief of the
Civil-Military Affairs.
Ibrahim Attahiru, made this disclosure while taking over from Major General
Bolaji Koleosho who himself later resumed work as the Chief of the
Civil-Military Affairs.
Attahiru who acknowledged the media reports said ‘‘my answer for
now is that the Chief of the Army Staff would address members of the press on
February 11 and this issue would properly be addressed.’’
now is that the Chief of the Army Staff would address members of the press on
February 11 and this issue would properly be addressed.’’
A top Army officer, who craved for anonymity, cautioned those
sponsoring the anti-COAS reports to stop it in the interest of the Army that
has made them. He reminded those he described as “disgruntled retired
generals’’ who are behind the reports to come out from their hiding if they are
sure of what they are saying.
sponsoring the anti-COAS reports to stop it in the interest of the Army that
has made them. He reminded those he described as “disgruntled retired
generals’’ who are behind the reports to come out from their hiding if they are
sure of what they are saying.
‘‘There are rules and regulations guiding our appointments,
promotions and retirements, those disgruntled retired generals should not
forget that it was the Army that made them and turning back to pull down the
house on everyone for selfish reasons is not good. They should have a re-think.
These people have a right to bring their grievances to the right quarters
instead of heating the system, they are picking names of some officers who come
from the Eastern part of the country as if they are the only ones that were
posted. This is not fair. The posting was well distributed and for your
information, two officers that follow the Chief in rank are from the section of
the country where these same people come from’’.
promotions and retirements, those disgruntled retired generals should not
forget that it was the Army that made them and turning back to pull down the
house on everyone for selfish reasons is not good. They should have a re-think.
These people have a right to bring their grievances to the right quarters
instead of heating the system, they are picking names of some officers who come
from the Eastern part of the country as if they are the only ones that were
posted. This is not fair. The posting was well distributed and for your
information, two officers that follow the Chief in rank are from the section of
the country where these same people come from’’.
Speaking further, the source disclosed that some of the
aggrieved retired officers ought to have been retired earlier but for the
intervention of the same General Ihejirika whom they are now fighting.
According to him, this exposes them as ingrates to the Army Chief who prolonged
their stay in the Army. The media should be patient for the Army Chief till
next week when he would address this issue. Only him could speak
authoritatively on this matter and lay it to rest once and for all.
aggrieved retired officers ought to have been retired earlier but for the
intervention of the same General Ihejirika whom they are now fighting.
According to him, this exposes them as ingrates to the Army Chief who prolonged
their stay in the Army. The media should be patient for the Army Chief till
next week when he would address this issue. Only him could speak
authoritatively on this matter and lay it to rest once and for all.
At the handing over ceremony, General Koleosho acknowledged the
support, understanding and camaradie that characterised the relationship
between the media and the Army while his tenure lasted and urged the
practitioners to extend the same gesture to his successor.
support, understanding and camaradie that characterised the relationship
between the media and the Army while his tenure lasted and urged the
practitioners to extend the same gesture to his successor.
The new Army spokesman appealed to the media to cross check
their facts from his office on any story that has to do with the Army before
going to the press with a promise to operate an open door policy every day.
their facts from his office on any story that has to do with the Army before
going to the press with a promise to operate an open door policy every day.
Source: Leadership
