Destiny in command: How Musa and Oluyede forged a unique legacy through three handovers

The recent handover of command between General Christopher Gwabin Musa and General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede at the pinnacle of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is more than a routine change of guard; it is the culmination of a destiny that has intertwined their careers through an unprecedented series of three command transfers. This unique professional symmetry even extends to their families, as Mrs. Oghogho Musa previously handed over the reins of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) at Jaji to Mrs. Mernan Oluyede, a transition now mirrored at the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA). This remarkable pattern sets the stage for the central narrative of their intertwined leadership.

General Musa, the last standing officer of the 38 Regular Course, has now passed the baton to Oluyede of the 39 Regular Course—one of its two remaining members, alongside the retained Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General EAP Undiendeye. Their professional bond, forged in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) on a foundation of mutual senior-junior respect, led to their commissioning into the Infantry Corps in 1991 and 1992, respectively.

Their parallel career arcs are evident in their training. Both officers advanced through the Young Officers Course in Infantry, the Regimental Signal Officers Course, and the Junior and Senior Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji. Musa furthered his education at the International College of Defence Studies in China, earning a Masters of Science in Military Science after his NDA degree in Chemistry. Similarly, Oluyede attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) for his Senior Executive Course, holding a Master of Arts in Economics following his first degree from the NDA.

General Musa’s operational career is marked by a series of critical command and staff posts. After serving as General Staff Officer 1 at HQ 81 Division and Commanding Officer of 73 Battalion, he held key positions at the Department of Army Policy and Plans and the HQ Nigerian Army Armour Corps. His ascent continued as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Infantry Centre and Corps, and as Commandant of Depot Nigerian Army. His defining command was as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, where his leadership proved exceptionally effective. He neutralized hundreds of terrorists, consolidated gains, and oversaw the mass surrender of insurgents. As one of the longest-serving and most successful Theatre Commanders, he strengthened intelligence-driven operations by widening and optimizing human intelligence sources. This stellar 18-month tenure directly preceded his redeployment as Infantry Corps Commander and subsequent appointment as Chief of Defence Staff.

General Oluyede’s career follows a similarly distinguished path. His early service included roles as a Platoon Commander and Company Second-in-Command. He later excelled as a Staff Officer in charge of Personnel, Welfare, Logistics, and Operations within the Headquarters Joint Task Force and 82 Division. His strategic appointments included Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Cooperation at 1 Division and Director at the Department of Army Standard and Evaluation. In the North-East, he performed commendably as Commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade and Acting Commander of Sector 2. A key breakthrough occurred in Buni Yadi, where he reorganized, restructured, and fortified his brigade’s defences, leading to the successful defeat of terrorist attacks in Buni Gari and Damaturu in 2019. His forces repelled a major infiltration attempt on Damaturu, recovering arms and eliminating top terrorist commander Abu Muktar and dozens of his fighters.

The trajectory to the top for both generals culminated on June 19, 2023, when Musa was appointed Chief of Defence Staff. In a related sweep of appointments, three of Oluyede’s course mates—Major General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar, and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye—were appointed to lead the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defence Intelligence Agency, respectively.

This set the stage for the first of the three handovers. Upon his appointment as Chief of Army Staff, General Lagbaja named Oluyede as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps Centre. In a symbolic moment, General Musa, the 55th Corps Commander, formally handed over to his successor on July 14, 2023, at Jaji. During the ceremony, Musa thanked his team and assured the Corps of his continued support. Oluyede, in turn, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him and vowed to prioritize the welfare of the Corps’ personnel.

The second handover was born of unforeseen circumstances. In late October 2024, following the indisposition of the ebullient Army Chief, General Lagbaja, President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff. This led to an unprecedented ceremony at the Defence Headquarters on November 1, 2024, where the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa, formally handed temporary command to Oluyede. Musa clarified that the move, while unusual, was supported by the Armed Forces Act to ensure no leadership void. Oluyede solemnly accepted the role and prayed for Lagbaja’s recovery.

Tragedy, however, would soon transform this temporary command into a permanent one. Mere days after his promotion to Lieutenant General, the nation mourned as General Lagbaja passed away on November 5, 2024. Following Senate confirmation, Oluyede was appointed the substantive Chief of Army Staff.

In this role, Oluyede championed a philosophy of “Consolidating the Transformation of the Nigerian Army Towards a Well-Motivated and Combat-Ready Force.” He built upon his predecessor’s legacy by increasing troops’ ration cash and operational allowances, while making significant interventions in accommodation, healthcare, and family welfare. He also drove the acquisition of critical equipment, including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and advanced armoured fighting vehicles, for deployment across all theatres.

His performance as Army Chief set the stage for the final act. On October 24, 2025, President Tinubu appointed him Chief of Defence Staff. On October 30, 2025, in the same Defence Headquarters, the outgoing CDS, General Musa, handed over the reins of the entire Armed Forces to General Oluyede, who was later promoted to a Four-Star General. Musa expressed his enduring commitment to service, while Oluyede praised his predecessor as a “disciplined and visionary leader” whose legacy provides a “springboard for future reforms.”

This, therefore, is the story of how destiny, forged at the Nigerian Defence Academy and tempered in the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, placed Generals Musa and Oluyede in a unique sequence of command, ultimately entrusting them with the leadership of the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Aruwan writes from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.