EXCLUSIVE: President Tinubu appoints General Kevin Aligbe to act for Army Chief, Lagbaja

Advertisements

Maj Gen Kevin Aligbe, Commander of Nigerian Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, has been appointed to act for the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, being the most senior officer to the COAS.

This exclusive report by Newstide247.com came in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s return to Abuja on Sunday after his two-week vacation in the United Kingdom and France.

As commander of TRADOC, General Aligbe is charged with development, education, and training of soldiers, civilians, and leaders through the activities of the command.

Specifically, TRADOC supports unit training, and designs, builds and integrate capabilities, formations, and equipment in the Army.

Major General Kevin Obhiozele Aligbe was born on 11 October 1967 at Uromi, in Edo State. A Christian from Ujabhole – Uwessan Irrua, in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, he had his primary education at St. Anthony’s Primary School, Okpujie-Uromi and attended Ujabhole Grammar School, Ujabhole – Irrua, finishing at Iruekpen Grammar School, Iruekpen both in Edo State between 1980 and 1986. From there he proceeded to the Federal Government College Kaduna for his Higher School Certificate (HSC) education between 1986 and 1987.

Gen Aligbe has a number of civil qualifications, including Advanced Diploma in Strategic Studies (China), BSc in International Relations and Defence Studies, MSc in Military Science (National Security), MSc in Public Administration and pursuing doctoral degree in Defence and Security Studies, at the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA.

Newstide247.com had earlier reported that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Sunday, spoke to President Bola Tinubu, dismissing death rumour.

Specifically, Lagbaja briefed President Tinubu on his health, which has generated controversies on the social media following a spreading death rumour.

A link close to the Defence Headquarters, qouted that President Tinubu was particularly excited to hear the voice of the Army Chief and prayed for his quick recovery.

Earlier, the Army Headquarters, AHQ, had dismissed the trending death rumour of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja, insisting that he is on leave. The AHQ described it as fake news.

The AHQ said all necessary protocols were in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on his behalf, hence there is no vacuum in the force.

A statement by Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said: “This is not peculiar to the Nigerian Army as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.”

The statement titled, ‘Nigerian Army Operational and Administrative Activities on Course, Contrary to Insinuations in the Media Space,’ stated that, “Recently, the media space, especially social media, has been awash with stories, rumours, and innuendoes about happenings in the Nigerian Army (NA).

“While some of these are laughable and deserve no further reference, others have bordered on pure mischief calculated to cause panic and confusion within the rank and file, as well as the general public.

“Specifically, many insinuations about personnel postings, promotions, and even training activities have been raised vis-a-vis the official leave of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

“There have even been insinuations that there is a leadership vacuum, with officers confused about what to do. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

“To be very clear, the Nigerian Army is a highly structured establishment with well-laid-out procedures and processes for dealing with different circumstances.

“Before proceeding on leave, necessary protocols were put in place for the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, to act on behalf of the COAS, while he is away.

“This is not peculiar to the NA as there have been instances where unforeseen human frailty kept service chiefs away for about three months, and their Chiefs of Policy and Plans held sway in their absence.

“Claims of a leadership vacuum in the NA presently is, therefore, mere speculation, as all routine and scheduled activities of the Service are on course.

“Indeed, in line with its Forecast of Events for 2024, the Nigerian Army recently conducted the Captain-Major Practical Promotion Examination in Akure.

“Subsequently and in line with extant procedures, the Commander Training and Doctrine Command, Major General Kevin Aligbe, announced the result after due authorisation by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), who currently answers for the Chief of Army Staff in his absence on leave and medical checkup abroad.

“Additionally, the Master Warrant Officer to Army Warrant Officer Promotion Exercise is currently ongoing in Jos.

“This follows a similar exercise held for Warrant Officer to Master Warrant Officer (WO-MWO) in Kaduna.
“The results of these exercises are expected to be released in the coming days, pending final reconciliation between the respective Corps and the Army Headquarters Department of Personnel Management.

“Contrary to the insinuation that the absence of the COAS occasioned by his leave, has caused undue delay in the release of the result of the WO-MWO promotion exercise, the NA wishes to clarify that it has never been the practice for the COAS to sign postings or promotions for both officers and soldiers in the NA.
“The appropriate departmental chiefs perform these functions routinely.

“These Departmental Chiefs, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, are fully carrying out their responsibilities in line with the COAS Command Philosophy.

“The Army Headquarters, therefore, enjoins the general public to remain confident in the NA and be assured that the Service remains on top of the security situations in the country and is ever ready to defend Nigeria against any aggression on its land territory.”

The Army Headquarters “thank all well-meaning Nigerians who have shown genuine concern about Lt Gen TA Lagbaja and have continued to pray for him.

“The Army Headquarters assures Nigerians and the international community that all land-related training, operational, and administrative activities are on course and that the COPP (A) is firmly and effectively running the affairs of the Service pending the return of the COAS.”

Indeed, the social media have been awashed with reports that current COAS, Lieutenant General Lagbaja, is on admission at a foreign hospital undergoing treatment for a yet-to-be-disclosed health issue, and may have died afterwards.