•Confirms Oluyede’s redeployment as DSS
By Abdullateef Bamgbose, Abuja
Senate, yesterday, confirmed the appointment of Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Major General; Waidi Shaibu, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sunday Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas and the redeployment of a former COAS, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, as Chief of Defence Staff, CDS.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after the nominees through a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole after a closed-door screening session that lasted for about one hour.
After a close-door session, Akpabio disclosed that the senators had engaged the service chiefs extensively on challenges in the country”.
The President of the Senate, however, congratulated the newly confirmed Service Chiefs and commended President Bola Tinubu for their appointments.
“We believe that this will renew the hope of Nigerians in respect of security issues”, Akpabio said.
Meanwhile, a few hours after the confirmation of appointments of new Service Chiefs by the Senate, the presidency reacted to it with elation .
Specifically the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters , Senator Basheer Lado in a statement he personally signed, expressed his happiness on the smooth screening and confirmation of appointments of the Service Chiefs by the Senate.
Senator Lado in the statement said : “As the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, I facilitated this crucial interface to ensure a smooth and coordinated engagement between the Executive and the Legislature, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to effective governance and national security.
“The appointment of Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede ,Chief of Defence Staff; Major Gen. Waidi Shaibu ,Chief of Army Staff, AVM Sunday K. Aneke ,Chief of Air Staff), and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represents a strategic step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture and fostering synergy among the Armed Forces for the protection of our nation’s sovereignty and citizens.
“I extend my profound appreciation to the President of the Senate, the Senate Leadership, and Distinguished Senators for the prompt and thorough consideration that led to the confirmation of the new Service Chiefs.
“Their commitment underscores the strong collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature in advancing the national interest and ensuring the security and stability of our dear nation”.
