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Buhari Tells New Security Chiefs They Were Chosen On Merit

"All of you, including the National Security Adviser, were chosen on merit. Your records gave you the job. Save for the new Chief of Army Staff whom I briefly met at his Command at the Multi-National Joint Task Force, in Chad, I don’t know any of you. Your records recommended you.

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In statements made on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari urged newly appointed security chiefs to do their best to uphold the reputation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Yesterday Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, confirmed to SaharaReporters the President informed military chiefs of the Nigerian Navy, Army, Airforce and the Chief of Defense staff that they would be replaced.

The President appointed Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.   

These are the highest profile appointments that President Buhari has made to this date. Virtually every ministerial office within the executive branch has yet to be filled, which has led to criticism that President Buhari has operated his administration too slowly.

Much of the the President’s agenda during his first weeks in office has been meeting with international and regional leaders concerning the war against Boko Haram. Buhari will be leading a delegation to Washington D.C. on July 20th to speak with top U.S. officials about security issues in the region.

In a statement released yesterday, Buhari encouraged the new chiefs to do their best in representing the military amidst its current challenges.

"All of you, including the National Security Adviser, were chosen on merit.  Your records gave you the job.  Save for the new Chief of Army Staff whom I briefly met at his Command at the Multi-National Joint Task Force, in Chad, I don’t know any of you.  Your records recommended you.

“Legally, you are in acting capacity until the National Assembly accepts you. It is only then that you will take the oath of office.  Thereafter, we will sit down and talk in more detail," President Buhari told the new security chiefs.

Mr. Buhari told the new security chiefs shortly after their appointments on Monday that their nominations would be sent to the National Assembly for confirmation.

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Military