By Dipo Olowookere
Minister of Defence, Mr Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, has reacted to reports by some online publications (Business Post excluded), claiming that he has sent letters to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, directing them to hand over their offices on or before Friday, December 16, 2016.
The Minister, in a statement issued on Monday, December 12, 2016, by his spokesman, Colonel Tukur Gusau, emphasised that there was no such communication between his office and the service chiefs directing any one of them to hand over his office and proceed on retirement.
“The appointment and replacement of service chiefs is a prerogative responsibility of the office of the President and Commander in Chief,” the Minister stressed.
“Please endeavour to always balance your stories from the right sources to avoid mischief,” he advised.