APC, security experts task new COAS, Yahaya, on insecurity
By Ayo Fadimu
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and security experts have called on the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya to use his experience as battlefield Commander to tackle insecurity ravaging the country.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of Maj.-Gen.Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff.
This disclosure was made in a statement by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu in Abuja.
Prior to his appointment, Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Theatre Commander of a military counter-terrorism unit in the North East.
In the meantime, APC has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice and appointment of Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), charging him to consolidate on the successes recorded so far against insecurity.
“On behalf of the National Chairman of the Party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), H.E. Governor Mai Mala Buni, we urge the new Chief of Army Staff to consolidate on the successes recorded by the military in tackling all security threats in the country,” the party said in a statement Thursday evening.
National Secretary of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe in the statement said this could be achieved and deepened sustainably through increased collaboration among the security services and communities.
He said, “More vigilance and increased cooperation and support through sharing information can pave way for faster mopping up the remnants of the insurgents and ending banditry and kidnapping in parts of the country.
“The APC notes with satisfaction that the President Buhari-led administration has prioritized the provision of more and advanced equipment for the armed forces which has enhanced their operational capability against elements posing threats to the country’s internal security.
“A battlefield commander with considerable experience, Major General Farouk Yahaya will as Chief of Army Staff, lead a thoroughly professional, adequately equipped and highly motivated officers and troops in their duty of protecting the territorial integrity of our country.
“We are confident that the new Chief of Army Staff will repose the President’s confidence in him by doing everything to stem the tide of insecurity. The success of the military is our collective success as a party and nation.
“The APC as an institution congratulates the new Chief of Army Staff and wish him success in his new, important and strategic national assignment.”
Similarly, security experts have also charged Yahaya to dwell on his vast experience to tackle security challenges currently bedeviling the country.
While speaking with our Correspondent in separate interviews in Lagos, they applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing, Yahaya, who is an active Commander on the warfront as the new COAS.
It would be recalled that Yahaya replaces the late Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the immediate past COAS, who alongside 10 others, died in a military aircrash that occurred on Friday in Kaduna.
The experts opined that Yahaya is a good operation officer and that he had the experience and capacity to steer the country forward in the fight against insurgency.
A security expert, Ben Okezie described Yahaya as a good operation military officer and a war strategist whom he met in Operation Lafia Dole.
“He has the capacity to handle the situation and finish the work which his predecessors had begun in sustaining the peace of the country.
“ Much has been given to him as COAS; therefore, much is also expected from him and I believe that he will meet up to standards and perform well,” he said.
Okezie said that Nigerians should endeavour to put him in their prayers and pray that God grants him the wisdom and understanding to steer the country in the right path toward ending insurgency.
“Yahaya is not an ethnic bigot but is someone who is balanced, fair and inclusive in decision making.
“I believe he will do us proud as a seasoned, and an experienced officer of his time,” he said.
Also, another security consultant, Dennis Amachree, said that Yahaya’s experience as Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, would be brought to bear in the fight against insurgency.
“The appointment of Yahaya is welcomed and came at a time that the country needs stability in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
Amachree, however, said that Yahaya’s appointment would lead to very senior military officers retiring as is the norm in the military when an officer is promoted ahead his contemporaries.
“The new COAS is Course 37 which implies that Courses 35 and 36 will be forced to retire because they cannot salute him upon his promotion.”
Previous military appointments held by the new COAS include: Garrison Commander, Headquarters Guards Brigade, Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC).
He was the Deputy Director Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Deputy Director, Army Research and Development and the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield.
Yahaya also served as the Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the Commander, Headquarters 4 Brigade and 29 Task Force Brigade (Operation Zaman Lafiya).
He was also Director Manpower at the Army Headquarters, Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.
Until his appointment as the COAS, Maj.- Gen. Farouk Yahaya was the Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, responsible for Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations in North-east Nigeria.
