President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Major General Faruk Yahaya as the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) last Thursday.

The immediate-past Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai succeeded the late Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru who died in a plane crash in Kaduna.

The choice of Yahaya was faulted in some quarters with critics arguing that the President should have considered a Southerner for the position.

But the government and supporters insist appointments, especially in the security sector, are not done based on sentiments.

With Yahaya’s assumption of office, 24 Major Generals are expected to retire from the Nigerian Army soon.

The Generals, 13 from the North and 11 from the South, were above Yahaya prior to his elevation.

A top retired military officer told PRNigeria that the Presidency picked the COAS because he is of the elite infantry corps, the combat and operation division of the Army.

“The Nigerian Army, as a multidisciplinary arm, has some Major Generals that are senior to Faruk Yahaya but are neither from combat nor in the combat supporting corps known as fighting arms.

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In terms of military operation, officers from the infantry, armour, and artillery are usually knowledgeable and skillful in counter-insurgency operations. Others from intelligence, signals, police and engineering provide supporting roles.

“The roles of Major Generals in the administrative and general corps such as Public Relations, Education, Medical and Chaplaincy among others do not include combat operations,” he said.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, seven Christians and four Muslims have been appointed Chiefs of Army Staff.

Major Generals who became Lieutenant Generals included Victor Malu – Benue (North-Central) 1999-2001; Alex Ogomudia – Delta (South-South) 2001-2003; Martin Luther Agwai – Kaduna (North West) 2003-2006; Owoye Andrew Azazi – Bayelsa (South-South) 2006-2007; Luka Yusuf – Kaduna (North-West) 2007-2008.

Others were Abdulrahman Dambazau – Kano (North-West) 2008-2010; Azubuike Ihejirika – Abia (South-East) 2010-2014; Kenneth Minimah – Rivers (South-South) 2014-2015; Tukur Buratai – Borno (North East) 2015-2021; Attahiru Ibrahim – Kaduna (North West) Jan-May 2021.

The new COAS, a Muslim from Sokoto (North-West), assumed office on May 28, 2021.

On Monday, Yahaya addressed Principal Staff Officers and Field Commanders at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

He vowed to command the military arm to win all land battles in defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, protect national interests and accomplish tasks in support of civil authority.

Yahaya pledged the “commitment and loyalty” of the Army to Buhari, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.