The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Major General Waheedi Shaibu as the new Chief of Army Staff, directing him to “take a bow” and assume office immediately.
Shaibu’s confirmation came just an hour after the upper chamber cleared General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, kicking off the screening process for President Bola Tinubu’s newly nominated service chiefs.
The confirmation exercise, held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, was conducted under heavy security as senators began a series of closed and open sessions to assess the nominations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, stated that the process was a constitutional requirement aimed at ensuring that only the most capable and patriotic officers are entrusted with the nation’s security.
Akpabio, however, appealed that “There is no need to ask them too many questions because we will be having a closed-door session with them.”
Senator Isah Jubrin, the lawmaker representing Kogi East, expressed trust in Shaibu’s skill and character, characterizing him as the appropriate guy for the job.
“The officer is well known to me. I have known him for 30 years. Shaibu is humble and takes his job very seriously. I want to believe that is an asset,” he said.
“I believe he has what it takes to move Nigeria out of the challenges the country is experiencing today,” he added.
