There is palpable tension in the Nigerian Armed Forces over plans to promote about 500 officers to the ranks of one star and two stars Generals this week, in Abuja, according to reports.
Over 500 officers from the Army, Navy and the Air Force due for promotion to their next ranks have completed their interviews with the various Promotion Boards set up by the services.
The affected officers are expected to wear their new ranks of Brigadier-Generals and Major-Generals in the Army, Commodores and Rear-Admirals in the Nigerian Navy, and Air Commodores and Air Vice-Marshals in the Nigerian Air Force, respectively, all things being equal.
It was gathered that an already intense lobby is going underground by the beneficiaries, who are using everything in their power, including political big-wigs, top government officials, clerics, traditional rulers and other top people in the society to lobby the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, and the various Service Chiefs to get them promoted.
According to sources, the selection Board, which is expected to sit this week, would among others scrutinise the list and report of the Promotion Boards, which sat sometimes in November, with a view to make recommendations and approve the names of those who passed the interview for promotion to their next ranks.
It was also gathered that over 200 officers from the army, 140 from the Navy and another 150 from the Air Force would wear their ranks before Christmas.
The sources further said that the selection board would submit its report to the army council before the end of the week. It was also gathered that the Army Council is expected to sit next week, all things being equal, for final approval, after which the names of the successful candidates would be published, with a date announced for the decoration ceremony.
The Army Council has the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Magashi, as its Chairman.
