Some security experts in Nigeria have charged the newly appointed Chief of Army Staff, COAS, to dwell on his vast experience to tackle security challenges currently bedeviling the country.
They gave the charge today, 27 May, while applauding his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the new Army Chief.
TheFact Nigeria reports that Yahaya replaces the late Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the immediate past COAS, who alongside 10 others, died in a military aircrash that occurred last Friday in Kaduna.
The experts hold that Yahaya is a good operation officer and that he had the experience and capacity to steer the country forward in the fight against insurgency.
A security expert, Ben Okezie, described Yahaya as a good operation military officer and a war strategist whom he met in Operation Lafia Dole.
“He has the capacity to handle the situation and finish the work which his predecessors had begun in sustaining the peace of the country.
”Much has been given to him as COAS; therefore, much is also expected from him and I believe that he will meet up to standards and perform well,” he said.
Okezie further urged Nigerians to put him in their prayers and pray that God grants him the wisdom and understanding to steer the country in the right path toward ending insurgency.
“Yahaya is not an ethnic bigot but is someone who is balanced, fair and inclusive in decision making.
“I believe he will do us proud as a seasoned, and an experienced officer of his time,” Okezie added.
Dennis Amachree, a security consultant, said that Yahaya’s experience as Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, would be brought to bear in the fight against insurgency.
“The appointment of Yahaya is welcomed and came at a time that the country needs stability in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Amachree, however, pointed out that Yahaya’s appointment would lead to very senior military officers retiring as is the norm in the military when an officer is promoted ahead of his contemporaries.
“The new COAS is Course 37 which implies that Courses 35 and 36 will be forced to retire because they cannot salute him upon his promotion.”
Appointments held by the new Army Chief include: Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, AFCSC.
He was the Deputy Director, Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director, Army Research and Development, and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer, PGSO, to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya).
He was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the COAS, Maj.- Gen. Farouk Yahaya was the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North-east Nigeria.
NAN.
