The Nigerian Army, Tuesday, announced the promotion, by President Muhammadu Buhari, of Major General Lamidi Adeosun to the rank of a Lieutenant General, the same rank as the incumbent Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.
The announcement was made in a press statement, Tuesday, by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, who said that apart from Adeosun, the President also approved the promotion of “Brig Gen A.B. Biu, General Officer Commanding 7 Division to the rank of a Major General.”
Gen. Buratai, the current Chief of Army Staff, was appointed by President Buhari in July 2015. Born November 24, 1960, he will hit the mandatory retirement age of 60 in November 2020.
Despite having more than one year to his retirement age, there were speculations, Tuesday, that Adeosun’s promotion might be a prelude to his eventual appointment as Buratai’s successor as Chief of Army.
But in the release, Army spokesperson, Col. Musa, explained that President Buhari granted the two generals, and a subaltern, accelerated promotions “for their extraordinary feats, courage, exemplary leadership, loyalty, uncommon commitment and valour in the counter-insurgency operation in the North Eastern part of the country.”
Col. Musa continued: “The President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the accelerated promotion of two senior officers and a subaltern of the Nigerian Army. The officers are granted promotion for their extraordinary feats, courage, exemplary leadership, loyalty, uncommon commitment and valour in the counter-insurgency operation in the North Eastern part of the country.
“The two senior officers are Maj Gen Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations at Army Headquarters, who has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and Brig Gen AB Biu, General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 2 Operation Lafiya Dole, Maiduguri, promoted to the rank of a Major General. Also, promoted to the rank of Captain is Lieutenant AJ Danjibrin of 211 Demonstration Battalion Bauchi.
“Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army felicitated with the newly promoted officers and extends his best wishes to them in all their future endeavours.”