The approval of the promotion of the Nigerian Army Chief of Training and Operations, Maj Gen Lamidi Adeosun, by President Muhammadu Buhari, to the rank of a Lieutenant General, the same rank as the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has fuelled speculations he may be named either the Army Chief or Chief of Defence Staff.
Also promoted is Brig. Gen. AB Biu, General Officer Commanding 7 Division to the rank of a Major General.
Speculations have been rife that the nation’s four service chiefs, long overdue for retirement, may be eased out soon; andwhen the elevation of the two top hats of the Army was announced Tuesday, the rumour mills went agog.
The Nigerian Army confirmed this promotion in a release on Tuesday. The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sagir Musa, announced: “The President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the accelerated promotion of two senior officers and a subaltern of the Nigerian Army. The officers are granted promotion for their extraordinary feats, courage, exemplary leadership, loyalty, uncommon commitment and valour in the counter-insurgency operation in the North Eastern part of the country.
“The two senior officers are Maj Gen Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations at Army Headquarters, who has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and Brig Gen AB Biu, General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri, promoted to the rank of a Major General. Also, promoted to the rank of Captain is Lieutenant AJ Danjibrin of 211 Demonstration Battalion Bauchi.“
“Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army felicitated with the newly promoted officers and extends his best wishes to them in all their future endeavours.”