Senate clears Gen Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

Oluyede’s confirmation followed a brief interaction with senators during plenary. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had urged his colleagues to allow the nominee to address the chamber and be cleared. Senate President Godswill Akpabio thereafter subjected the request to a voice vote, which sailed through.

The senior officer spoke for about 20 minutes, reeling out his previous command roles — including his immediate past posting as Chief of Army Staff — before his elevation.

President Bola Tinubu had on October 24 approved changes in the hierarchy of the Armed Forces, naming Oluyede as replacement for General Christopher Musa. The President said the shake-up was to further strengthen the national security architecture.

In the same exercise, Tinubu appointed Major-General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff. Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye was retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

Shaibu, Aneke and Abbas were also scheduled for screening, with Shaibu already at the podium when the session went into press time.

Details later…