Presidential
special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, has admitted that
the Chief of Defence staff is stepping down as he makes other
revelations.
The presidency has denied a news report that President Muhammad
Buhari has approved the replacement of Chief of Defence Staff, General
Gabriel Olonisakin, and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe
Ibas, as Service Chiefs.
Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said the report was “not completely true”.
He however admitted that the defence chief was stepping down.
Adesina said, ”The newspaper, rather than rush to print an
unsubstantiated story, would have done better to confirm the information
at its disposal, from many available military and government
information channels. It then would have avoided the self-inflicted
wound of publishing a one-legged story that is not completely true, and
damaging its brand in the process.
“Gen Olonisakin is due to retire from the Army next week,
having satisfied the official number of years in service. He is yet to
be replaced. But the Chief of Naval Staff has a short while more, and
President Buhari could, therefore, not have approved his replacement
yet.”
Mr. Adesina said the administration had repeatedly pledged
commitment to transparency and accountability, and one of the hallmarks
of that is making information available to the media.
“But when some sections of the media would rather speculate,
than cross-check and double check information, then it borders on
deliberate mischief. That, surely, is not the way to go, for national
cohesion and development,” he said.
-Premium Times
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