From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Nigerian Army has maintained that the absence of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has not in anyway created a leadership vacuum the service.
It described the claims of leadership vacuum in the service trending on the social media as mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service were on course.
Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who made this known, said Lagbaja is currently on official leave, stressing that necessary protocols had been put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS during his absence.
He enjoined the general public to remain confident in the army and be assured that the Service is on top of the security situations in the country and ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its territory.
The statement read in part: “Recently, the media space, especially social media, has been awash with stories, rumours, and innuendoes about happenings in the Nigerian Army (NA). While some of these are laughable and deserve no further reference, others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public.
“Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances. Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim.
, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away. This is not peculiar to the Nigeria Army as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence. Claims of leadership vacuum in the Army at present is therefore mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.”
He also thanked all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.