A week ago, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo replaced all
three chiefs of the 80,000-man armed forces. The president
appears to be moving to pre-empt his opponents, particularly
members of the Hausa ethnic group. The loyalty of top officers is
vital, both to the government and to Nigeria's role as a top
exporter of oil to the United States.
Analysis
Nigeria's army, navy and air force chiefs retired April 24. The
military claimed they reached retirement age and that was the
reason for their discharge, reported Agence France-Presse April
24. But the decision by all three to step down - simultaneously -
suggests they were forced out.
The president apparently dismissed the three service chiefs to
strengthen his control over Nigeria's armed forces. The president
is motivated by looming presidential elections, just a few years
away, and concerns over the increasingly tribal and ethnic
fractures of Nigerian politics. He is trying to pre-empt the
Hausa from dominating the military again.
This struggle over the 80,000-man Nigerian military is important
for the survival of the Obasanjo regime and the supply of oil,
particularly to the United States. Nigeria is Africa's largest
oil producer and a top supplier to the American market.
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