Following Tuesday’s statement by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TY Buratai, that some individuals have been approaching top Army officers and soldiers for political reasons, press has gathered that the recent redeployment in the Nigerian Army was not unconnected with the alarm. Buratai, our correspondent learnt, had vowed to crush any coup plot against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Recall that Buhari, again on May 7, travelled to London for medical treatment. Just hours after he left Nigeria, Buratai, it was learnt, requested to see the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo urgently. At the meeting in the presidential villa, Abuja, Buratai was said to have presented Osinbajo with intelligence that some prominent politicians were hobnobbing with Army officers and soldiers in a bid to compromise them. Osinbajo, it was gathered, thanked Buratai and said he trusted the Army Chief to put his officers and soldiers in check. Buratai responded by pledging his loyalty to the Buhari administration and hinted that he would carry out “immediate changes”, to counter any plan to topple government. Meanwhile, there are concerns over the safety of Acting President Osinbajo and it is believed that he would have reached out to his principal over the alarming security reports. Press contacted the presidency for reaction Tuesday night. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, did not take calls put to his mobile phone Tuesday night. However, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he was not aware of Buratai’s statement. “A statement by the Army Chief? I’m just hearing this. Unfortunately, I’m not in the country at the moment so I cannot comment”. Shehu did not disclose his current location. Recall that on May 10, three days after Buhari jetted out, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, Director Army Public Relations, in a statement said “In a bid to re-strategize, the Nigerian Army has posted in 147 officers into Operation LAFIYA DOLE, some Divisions, formations and training schools”. In a posting released by the Office of the Military Secretary (Army), Major General RO Yusuf, Commander, Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, is now the Commander Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, while Major General A Oyebade, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, moves to Army Headquarters as Chief of Logistics (COLOG). ***prbxselfnetwork***
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