Drama As Nigerian Army Generals Fight Over Top Position in Kaduna

Posted by Nicholas on Tue 28th Jul, 2015 - tori.ng

Two top military officers were almost caught in a web of confrontation as one refused to step down for the other.

A mild drama happened at the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) when the outgoing director-general, Major General E.R. Chioba refused to hand over to the newly appointed director-general of the corporation, Brigadier General Augustine Odidi.

According to reports the new DG, Brigadier General Odidi went to Kaduna, the headquarters of DICON, to take over from Major General Chioba who was appointed DG in February 2013; he was however shocked that Chioba reportedly told him that he was not going to handover to him.

According to Sources, Chioba's refusal to hand over to the new DG was based on general order to put on hold all recent postings done in the Nigerian Army on the eve of the exit of the former Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah.

However, other sources squealed that the outgoing DG may be afraid of handing over to Odidi, who is known to be a disciplined personnel.

Odidi was appointed as the new DG by President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter signed by the Military Secretary, Army (MSA) Major General I.I. Abbas and was expected to resume duty on July 20, 2015.

Before his appointment, Odidi who was promoted Brigadier General on January 4, 2008, was the deputy director, Production, Department of Logistics, Defence Headquarters Abuja.

DICON was established to produce small arms and ammunition for the use of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. It also produces machinery spare parts for industries and other products for civilian use.