The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu’s removal of service chiefs was a lawful bid to inject fresh energy and direction into the military, not a response to coup rumours.
The Presidency has clarified that President Bola Tinubu’s dismissal and replacement of Nigeria’s service chiefs was not linked to a rumored coup attempt but aimed at injecting new direction into the armed forces.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, told Saturday PUNCH that Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers. “Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President. He is the Commander-in-Chief,” Onanuga said.
On Friday, Tinubu announced new appointments, naming General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, while Major-General Emmanuel Undiandeye remains Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tope Ajayi, said the shake-up followed two years of sustained operations under the former chiefs, adding that it reflected the President’s intent to “inject new direction, vision, vigour and energy.”
He dismissed the coup speculation, stating, “This is not a reaction to any rumour of coups. The service chiefs have done two years.”
Despite these clarifications, opposition parties and security analysts have urged the government to offer further explanations, citing public suspicion over the timing of the move, which came days after a viral report alleging an attempted coup was denied by the Defence Headquarters.