Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau (Retd), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), recently recounted his experience of assuming the role of COAS ahead of his senior colleagues.
In a video shared on YouTube by AIT, General Dambazau acknowledged the potential tension that can arise when an officer is appointed as COAS before their seniors. However, he shared that upon his appointment, he approached his senior colleagues who held other significant positions within the force. He gave them the option to either remain in their roles or leave the force.
Remarkably, his senior colleagues expressed their willingness to collaborate with him, and General Dambazau, in turn, agreed to allow them to continue until the next promotion cycle. This decision, according to him, cultivated a sense of mutual respect, enabling them to work together seamlessly without encountering any conflicts.
In his own words, General Dambazau stated, "When I was made Chief of Army Staff, I had some of my seniors who were holding key appointments, and I called them to ask them if they wanted to leave. They said they wanted to remain and work with me if I was comfortable with that, and I obliged."
Watch the video of the interview from 16:44