Why Buhari appointed Faruk Yahaya as new Chief of Army Staff

The Minister of Defence, Bashir Salihi-Magashi, has disclosed the rationale behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Major General Faruk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff, following the death of Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

Recall that last Friday, Lt. Gen. Attahiru, along with 12 other Army officers, was involved in the deadly plane crash in Kaduna.

On Thursday, Buhari appointed Mr Yahaya as Attahiru’s replacement.

Speaking on Gen. Yahaya’s appointment, the defence minister, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, said President Buhari had put “national interest above ethnic and religious chauvinism”.

The minister described the new Army Chief as “an organic infantry General who is tested and trusted to actualise the national aspirations to restore peace in the dark spots areas of insurgency, kidnapping and banditry as well as other allied threats to the nation’s corporate existence”.

The statement in part read: “The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has commended the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for the well thought out Strategic appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya, the 22nd Chief of Army Staff as replacement for the late Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash alongside ten others last Friday in Kaduna.

“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 competences among other yardsticks that culminated into his emergence as most suitably qualified new Army boss.

“The Defence Minister expressed optimism in the professional pedigree of the former theatre Commander Operation “Hadin Kai” General Yahaya in sustaining the trajectory of taking offensive and aggressive campaigns to the camps, corridors and cells of the adversaries with a view to obliterating them.

“As a battle Commander with remarkable exploits and considerable experience, exposure and expertise he will be committed to the new battle plans and philosophy of Jointness among Services and other security agencies in combat which are some of the legacies of his predecessor.