The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on Wednesday, appeared for screening before the two chambers of the National Assembly, asserting he is well experienced and qualified to lead the Nigerian Army.
While the Senate screened him before closed doors, the House of Representatives, on the other hand, conducted the exercise openly.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Oluyede acting COAS to replace the late Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away recently.
Addressing the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army, Oluyede said, “I humbly appear before you today to be confirmed as the 24th Chief of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army simply because tragedy befell our Army and the Armed Force when the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, passed after a brief illness.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, the acting Army chief recalled his journey in the military profession.
“I have served this great nation as an officer of the Nigerian Army for over 30 years. My exposure to national security issues at the junior, middle, and senior cadres of the military profession has prepared me adequately for the assignment I am being screened for here today.
“In the past five years or thereabouts, I have operated at the senior operational and management levels of the Nigerian Army and I have somewhat been part of the running of the service in its entirety.
