By Kingsley Omonobi
ABUJA— There is palpable panic and unease in the Armed Forces following last Tuesday’s removal of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Abdurahman Dambazau and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ibrahim by President Goodluck Jonathan in what has been described as the most sweeping change of heads of security organisations by any sitting President.
Vanguard investigations revealed, weekend, that the Nigerian Air Force, with Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umar, is the worst hit as 11 Air Vice Marshals who are seniors to the new Chief, have become panicky and uncertain of their future under the new dispensation.

While the new Chief of Air staff, Umar, who takes over from Air Marshal Petinrin, new CDS is Course 19, his seniors in Courses 17 and 18 where most of the officers belong, abound in the Air Force.

Though there may be openings at the Defence Headquarters for one or two of the officers if the Air Force High Command deems it necessary, feelers however showed  that about 10 of the AVMs would be sent packing.

Among the senior officers being considered for retirement, two of them are currently serving in the Defence Headquarters. One of them is at the Nigeria Defence Academy, two are Commandants of Tri-Service institutions, one is an Air Officer Commanding, AOC, while two of them are currently Principal Staff Officers, PSOs, at NAF Headquarters.

For the Army, about 24 Generals including nine Major Generals and 15 Brigadier Generals are due for retirements owing to being seniors of the new Army Chief while others have been caught by age on rank.

Already, some of the Generals have received their terminal leave letters which is as good as retirement and they include the Commandant of the Training and Doctrine Command; General Officer Commanding 81 Division of the Nigerian Army; Chief of Administration, Nigerian Army; Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Army and one other Major General at the Defence Headquarters.

Others whose continued retention in service would depend on the new Army Chief and application of the terms and conditions of service, include the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj-General Yerima.

The Brigadier-Generals, on their part, include those who have surpassed the stipulated age that is allowed to hold the rank of Brigadier-General.

Regarding the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ola Saad who is Course 17, is spared the trauma of having to dispense with officers as the closest to him presently is a Course 18 officer, who is the current Chief of Administration at the Naval Headquarters.

In fact, there is celebration among family and friends of the new CNS because going by the terms and condition of service of the Armed Forces, the former FOC Western Naval Command, who was scheduled to proceed on terminal leave in either December or January 2011, would have retired from service in May 2011.

With the appointment as a service chief, his tenure now depends on the wishes of the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Jonathan.