A senior researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, Oyewole Oginni, has likened the reshuffling of service chiefs to an appraisal, which he argues is normal.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday reshuffled the country’s military hierarchy, leading to claims that it was due to reports of an alleged coup.
But Oginni has downplayed the suggestion, saying it was expected to happen, especially in view of security challenges around the Sahel region.
“So, I think it’s nothing new. It’s not something that should cause alarm. It’s something that needs to happen. It’s about performance appraisal, in my opinion, which needs to evolve over time in reaction to what is happening around us,” he said on Saturday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise show.
READ ALSO: Tell Nigerians Real Reason For Service Chiefs’ Sack, ADC Challenges Tinubu
Decisive Move
According to him, with some African countries being ruled by the military, and ISWAP pushing southwards in Nigeria, the president was right to have made the move.
“As you already know, if you look around you — you have to look at what is happening with your neighbors and be able to reflect critically. A good decision-maker is going to act in advance of whatever may happen. Of course, irrespective of whether there’s a rumor of a coup or not, you need to also take into cognizance what is happening around you,” Oginni said.
“For example, you can link it up with what actually happened in the Indian Ocean there in Madagascar, with a little protest — and what that actually generated into: a military takeover in the last few days as you can observe that, and you can also observe that not just within Nigeria’s territory — the Sahel is on fire.
“And not just because the actors there are military juntas, but it’s also important to know that they have their influencers who they continue to use both within West Africa to push the narrative that having a military as a government is the best. So, the government has to be a bit sensitive.
“If you look internally at what is going on — with the expansion of armed groups such as ISWAP and other things that are happening — you know that a good leader needs to be careful, to look at what is happening and see how much needs to be done in order to get it right.”
On Friday, Tinubu replaced General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede (former Chief of Army Staff) as the Chief of Defence Staff.
The Nigerian leader equally appointed Major-General W. Shaibu as the Chief of Army Staff. Air Vice Marshall S.K. Aneke became the Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas was appointed as the Chief of Naval Staff.
He, however, retained Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
While the presidency defended the move as part of plans to strengthen national security, critics and observers argue that it was in response to an alleged coup attempt.
