Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has congratulated Major-General Olufemi Oluyede on his appointment as the acting Chief of Army Staff by President Bola Tinubu.

The governor also thanked the President for finding the Ikere-Ekiti-born General Oluyede worthy of the appointment.

The president had on Wednesday appointed Oluyede as acting COAS pending the return of the indisposed substantive Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

This was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

Prior to this appointment, Oluyede was the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, stationed in Jaji, Kaduna.

The 56-year-old Oluyede shares a long history with Lagbaja, as both are members of the 39th Regular Course, commissioned as officers in 1987, with Oluyede being promoted to Major General in September 2020.

Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, said he had absolute confidence in General Oluyede’s ability to excel on the new assignment as he had done in previous assignments.

He described the acting COAS “as a gallant officer with proven integrity and great accomplishments in his military career.”

The Ekiti State governor urged the new acting COAS “to bring his wealth of experience and expertise to bear on the new assignment, especially at this critical period.”

Oyebanji also commiserated with Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who is currently indisposed and wished him a speedy recovery.

“Hearty congratulations to General Oluyede. The government and good people of Ekiti State wish him God’s guidance in the new assignment. We also thank the President for finding him deserving of the elevation”, he added.

PUNCH