Tinubu Elevates Acting Chief of Army Staff Olufemi Oluyede to Lieutenant General Amid Uncertainty Surrounding Ailing Lt. Gen. Lagbaja.
President Bola Tinubu has officially promoted Major General Olufemi Oluyede, the Acting Chief of Army Staff, to the rank of Lieutenant General. The promotion ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, according to sources from SaharaReporters.
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This move comes just a week after President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff to fill in for the ailing substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, announced the news in a recent statement.
Background on Lt. Gen. Oluyede
Before his current role, Oluyede, 56, served as the 56th Commander of the Nigerian Army’s elite Infantry Corps based in Jaji, Kaduna. His military career began in 1992 when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and he rose to the rank of Major General in September 2020.
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In a statement regarding his promotion, President Tinubu remarked, “Major General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede has been appointed as the Acting Chief of Army Staff, pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
The Situation of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja
The fate of Lt. Gen. Lagbaja remains uncertain. Earlier reports revealed that he had been secretly flown abroad for medical treatment following a prolonged absence from official duties.
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Sources indicate that his health has raised concerns among top military officials, prompting intense competition for his position due to fears surrounding his potential return to office.
Major General Olufemi Oluyede Biography, Family, Career, State of Origin
Lagbaja, who was born on February 28, 1968, in Ilobu, Osun State, was appointed as the 27th Chief of Army Staff by President Tinubu in June 2023. He took office on June 23, 2023, replacing Faruk Yahaya. The Chief of Army Staff plays a crucial role, reporting to the Chief of Defence Staff, who, in turn, reports to the Defence Minister and ultimately to the President of Nigeria.
Health Concerns and Leadership Void
Sources described Lagbaja’s ailment as “strange” and indicated that he had not been seen at the Army headquarters or any military functions for over three weeks. One insider stated, “The Chief of Army Staff is nowhere to be found. He hasn’t been seen for many days now. I can confirm he is seriously sick and was taken to the hospital, but his family arranged for him to be moved out of the country for treatment.”
The current leadership void has left many Major Generals in the Nigerian Army in a state of uncertainty, as they lack direct guidance during this critical period. As the military awaits Lagbaja’s recovery, the pressure mounts on Oluyede to lead effectively in his new capacity as Lieutenant General.
