By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, approved sweeping changes in the nation’s Armed Forces, with the sacking of all service chiefs, Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Director-General of the State Security Service, SSS.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, said in a six-paragraph statement, that President Jonathan approved the appointment of Oluseye Petinrin, an Air Marshal and former Chief of Air Staff as the new Chief of Defence Staff, adding that he replaced Paul Dike as the CDS.

The statement said that contrary to past practices, President Jonathan had resolved that all new appointees into the top hierarchy of the nation’s Armed Forces would pass through a mandatory screening process as enshrined in the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The statement said that O.A Ihejirika, a major general, and former General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Lagos, as the new Chief of Army Staff adding that he replaces Abdulrahman Danbazzau.

It said that O.S Ibrahim, a rear admiral and Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command replaces Ishaya Ibrahim as the new Chief of Naval Staff while MD Umar; an air vice marshal takes over from Petirin as the new Chief of Air Staff.

Also appointed was Hafiz Ringim, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 9, Umuahia, as the new Inspector General of Police who replaces Ogbonnaya Onovo while Ita Ekpenyong replaced Afakiriya Gadzama as the new Director General of the SSS.

Niboro said: “The appointments which take immediate effect are, however, subject to the confirmation of the National Assembly, in line with provisions of the Armed Forces Act section 18, cap A20, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He said: “The President thanked the outgoing service chiefs, whose tenure expired in August, for their loyalty and dedication to service. He especially commended them for defending the Nigerian constitution at all times and for successful command of the armed forces during their tenure.

“The President thanked outgoing IGP, Onovo, and outgoing SSS chief, Gadzama for their dedication to service of the fatherland, and wished them well in their future endeavours.”
Vanguard gathered while the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting was going which President Jonathan did not attend, the President was busy holding a high level security meeting with the outgoing service chiefs, perhaps to brief them on his new dream for country’s security outfits.

This, it was learnt, explained why Jonathan was conspicuously missing from yesterday’s proceedings at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, venue of the FEC meeting.

The former IGP, Onovo, was billed to retire officially next year, but could not serve up to the mandatory 35 years in service before Jonathan’s sacking axe came on him.