Why Buhari extended tenure of military chiefs- Dan-Ali

By Obinna Ezugwu

Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali has explained that the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of serving military chiefs was informed by their efforts in curtailing Boko Haram terrorists in the country’s North East region.

The President had, on Monday, approved  tenure extension of the affected service chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai who ought to have retired seven months ago; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin; the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas and the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar.

The Minister in a statement  by his Public Relations Officer, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said the President extended the tenures after “having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the country.”

He however, did not specify the duration of the extension, but it is expected that they may now serve out the current tenure of the APC government.