November 5, 2024
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday decorated the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Olufemi Oluyede with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Tinubu, who performed the decoration ceremony in his office at the State House, Abuja, had Chief of General Staff, General Christopher Musa and other service chiefs in attendance.
Tinubu commended the military for its unwavering courage, dedication and patriotism in sustaining the nation’s security.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President stated: “It is both an honour and a privilege to decorate you today.”
“We recognise all that you have been doing to ensure the country is safe and stable”
Tinubu assured the military of effective collaboration to keep the country on the path of peace and prosperity noting that “We are facing challenges, but progress is being made.
The President attributed the success recorded in tackling terrorism and banditry to the “collaboration’’ in the armed forces and urged the service chiefs to sustain harmony in their relationship for the betterment of the country.
READ MORE; Tinubu appoints acting Chief of Army Staff.
“The synergy among you has calmed the country, and we need that stability to continue. We need to assure all citizens that prosperity is not far from them,’’ he stated.
Acknowledged the solemnity of the occasion, Lt. Gen. Oluyede expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and reiterated his commitment to upholding the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, and to maintaining peace across the country.
Lt. Gen. Oluyede (N/9318) was granted Regular Combatant Commission as second lieutenant as a member of the 39 Regular Course on September 19, 1992, with seniority in the same rank effective September 12, 1987.
The acting chief of army staff participated in several operations, including the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) mission in Liberia, Operation Harmony IV in Bakassi, and Operation Hadin Kai in the North East.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu named Oluyede as acting Chief of Army Staff about six days ago, precisely October 30, to fill the office in the absence of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who is on leave for medical treatment abroad.
