Metro
Drama as 2 Generals clash over DICON
There was a standoff that caused a drama at the Defence Industrial Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Kaduna when the newly appointed Director General Brigadier General Odidi, reported for duty.
The outgoing DG, Major General E.R. Chioba refused to hand over to him.
Sources said that Chioba who was appointed DG in February 2013, told General Odidi that he was not going to hand over to him.
While some sources said 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, other sources maintained that the outgoing DG may be afraid of handing over to Odidi who is known to be a straightforward and no-nonsense officer.
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.
Born on March 4, 1961 in Kano, but hails from Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State, Odidi joined the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, as a member of the 27th Regular Combatant Course in 1980 and won the best graduating Army Cadet Silver Medal which was awarded to him by the then President Shehu Shagari. He was commissioned as second lieutenant and posted as member of the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Corps (NAEME).
Read also: Mix-up over order dismantling military checkpoints
Before his appointment, Odidi who was promoted Brigadier General on 4 January 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.
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