One of the first major actions to be taken by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on assumption of office is a massive shake-up of the military, Forumspotz understands that
there will be a “mass retirement” of senior officers who are believed to have corruptly enriched themselves or “who abandoned professionalism for politics”, sources in the know of the plan told us that already, a small group has been set up quietly
to work out the modalities for the shake-up and scout possible replacements for those to be
weeded out.
Most likely to be affected are officers who allegedly mismanaged funds meant for military operations, those who colluded with crude oil thieves and those who engaged in political
activities in breach of their professional duties.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his congratulatory letter to Buhari after the March 28 election, had urged the president-elect to reform the military, saying “so much harm (had been) done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured you and me”.
An insider in Buhari’s circle told our correspondent that “The military has been politicised and bastardised in the last few years.
Corruption has reached unprecedented levels with the oil theft in the Niger Delta and haphazard anti-terror war. “Nobody can say sincerely that the leadership of the military has lived up to expectations. We need a professional military. We cannot be relying on neighbouring countries to be bailing us out of our internal issues. Buhari will transform the military to an institution of pride for all Nigerians again.”