Nigeria reshuffles army top brass as poll looms

ABUJA, May 30 (Reuters) Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo replaced most of his top military commanders today in an unexpected move that comes ahead of elections next year.

A statement from the presidency gave no reason for the reshuffle, in which Obasanjo replaced three out of the four most senior commanders of the armed forces and also appointed a new national security adviser.

Obasanjo's move comes just two weeks after a campaign to allow him to stand for a third term was defeated, throwing wide open a contest that had previously been limited to a struggle between those who wanted an extra term and those who opposed it.

The new appointments are believed to be staunch Obasanjo loyalists, strengthening the president's hand as he tries to ensure that a candidate of his choice will succeed him.

Africa's most populous nation was ruled by the army almost continuously from 1966 to 1999, when Obasanjo, a former military ruler, returned to power as a civilian in a transition to democracy.

The armed forces remain influential and two of the most high-profile contenders for next year's presidential election are former army dictators.

The election should mark the first time one civilian government hands over to another through elections in Africa's biggest oil producing country.

One analyst said the military reshuffle was part of the complex fallout from the defeat of Obasanjo's third term bid.

''I think it has to do with the elections and with what happened two weeks ago,'' said Abubakar Momoh, a lecturer in political science at Lagos State University.

He and others speculated that one element of the reshuffle was that Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, the outgoing national security adviser, wants to run for president. Gusau's name has popped up for several weeks in newspaper articles on possible candidates.

The presidency's statement gave no biographical details on any of the newly appointed commanders, who take up their posts on June 1.

Asked about the reason for the changes, Obasanjo's spokeswoman, Remi Oyo said: ''Since when does a commander in chief have to give a reason for moving his troops about?'' General Martin Luther Agwai, who until now was chief of army staff, was promoted to chief of defence staff, overseeing the army, navy and air force. New commanders were appointed to head the army and air force. Only the chief of naval staff remained in place.

REUTERS CH KP2310