President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation for Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede’s appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.
A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the letter, which was sent to the Senate on Friday, seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.
Oluyede was appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30, following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5.
According to the statement, President Tinubu expressed confidence in Oluyede’s leadership qualities, professional integrity, and extensive experience, which he believes will help lead the army and ensure national security and stability.
Before his appointment as Acting Chief of Army Staff, Oluyede, a member of the 39th Regular Course, served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, based in Jaji, Kaduna. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1992 and promoted to Major-General in September 2020.ExxonMobil graduate internship
Oluyede has held numerous command positions throughout his career, including Platoon Commander and adjutant at 65 Battalion, Company Commander at 177 Guards Battalion, Staff Officer in the Guards Brigade, and Commandant of the Amphibious Training School.
He has participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Mission in Liberia, Operation HARMONY IV in Bakassi, and Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, where he commanded the 27 Task Force Brigade
For his outstanding service in various operations, Oluyede has received numerous awards, including the Corps Medal of Honour, the Grand Service Star, the Field Command Medal, the Field Command Medal of Honour, the Field Training Medal, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Award.
Oluyede is married and has three children.
Last week, Intel Region reported that President Tinubu posthumously honoured former COAS Lagbaja, conferring on him the title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) of Nigeria.Graduate internship
The CFR is Nigeria’s third honour, below the GCFR and GCON.
Tinubu disclosed this at the burial ceremony of the late army chief. The deceased’s wife, Mariya, received the award on behalf of her late husband.
The former army chief died in Lagos on 5 November after a brief illness. His body was airlifted to Abuja yesterday for funeral and burial services.