₦airaland Forum

JUST IN: President Buhari appoints Academy Adjutant of NDA, Lt-Col YM Dodo, as his new Aide-De-Camp (ADC). Takeover from Col ML Abubakar who’s proceeding to attend a course & on completion of the course, he is due for promotion to the rank of Brig-Gen alongside his coursemates.

naptu2:
ADCs of Nigerian Heads of State since 1956.

An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant or secretary to a person of high rank, usually a senior military or government officer, a member of a royal family, or a head of state.

Various countries have their own individual traditions regarding the duties of the ADC or equerry to their Commander In Chief. In France, Russia and the United States, the president's ADC carries the country's nuclear briefcase. In the United Kingdom, an ADC is usually a high ranking officer or member of the Royal Family (eg, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are ADCs to the Queen) and what we would call an ADC is called an equerry.

Aides-de-camp are usually of the rank of major, lieutenant colonel or colonel.

Nigeria inherited the practice of assigning military aides-de-camp to the head of state and commander in chief from the British. British governor-generals of Nigeria (before independence) had military ADCs.  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aide-de-camp

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equerry

naptu2:
Elizabeth II, Queen, Head of State and Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces Of The Federation Of Nigeria.

Equerry = Johnson Thomas Umanakwe Aguiyi Ironsi (Royal West African Frontier Force).

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JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi behind Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Aguiyi Ironsi was the equerry to Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Nigeria in 1956. He attained the rank of Major General and was the Head of State and Supreme Commander of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria when he was killed in 1966.

Lieutenant JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi was also the aide-de-camp to the Governor of Nigeria, Sir John Stewart Macpherson, in the early 1950s.

naptu2:
Sir James Robertson, Governor General, Head of State and Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces Of The Federation Of Nigeria (representative of the Queen).

ADC = Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (Royal Nigerian Army).

Major General Adeyinka Adebayo
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Robert Adeyinka Adebayo became the first Nigerian aide-de-camp to the Governor General of Nigeria in 1957. He rose to the rank of Major General and served as Governor of the Western Region and the Western State.

naptu2:
The Right Honourable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor General, Head of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federation Of Nigeria (1960-1963) and President, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria (1963-1966).

President Azikiwe had 3 ADCs (serving concurrently), one each from the army, navy and air force.

ADC = Orho Esio Obada (Nigerian Army).

Major General Orho Esio Obada
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Orho Obada attained the rank of Major General before retiring from the army.


ADC = Michael Adelanwa (Nigerian Navy)

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Michael Adelanwa rose to become a Vice Admiral and Chief of The Naval Staff.


Vice Admiral Michael Ayinde Adelanwa (Chief Of Naval Staff).
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naptu2:
Major General Johnson Thomas Umanakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi, Head Of State And Supreme Commander Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

General Aguiyi Ironsi had 3 ADCs (serving concurrently), one each from the army, navy and air force.

ADC = Lieutenant Sani Bello (Nigerian Army).

Sani Bello became a Colonel and Governor of Kano State.

Colonel Sani Bello

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ADC = Lieutenant Andrew Nwankwo (Nigerian Air Force).

Andrew Nwankwo retired with the rank of Captain and later became a senator.

Senator Andrew Nwankwo.
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naptu2:
General Yakubu Gowon, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Colonel William Walbe (Nigerian Army).

Colonel Walbe served as the Defence Attache at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington after General Gowon was overthrown.

naptu2:
General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa (Nigerian Army).

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Lieutenant Akinsehinwa was General Muhammed's ADC when he was Inspector Of Signals and Minister of Communications. Muhammed decided to retain Akinsenhinwa as his ADC when he became Head Of State. Lieutenant Akinsehinwa died as a result of injuries that he sustained during the February 13, 1976 coup.

naptu2:
Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Ekpo Archibong (Nigerian Army)



Ekpo Archibong rose to the rank of Major General and was the GOC, 2nd Mechanised Division, Ibadan when Olusegun Obasanjo became the President of Nigeria in 1999.

ADC = Major Omowon (Nigerian Army).

naptu2:
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, President, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Lieutenant Colonel Isa Garkida Usman (Nigerian Army).

ADC = Major Ali Geidam (Nigerian Army).

naptu2:
Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Colonel Mustapha Haruna Jokolo (Nigerian Army).

Colonel Jokolo later became the Emir of Gwandu.

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naptu2:
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, President, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Nigerian Army).

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Colonel Dasuki was President Babangida's ADC from 1985 until his clash with General Abacha c1988. He later became the National Security Adviser.



ADC = Colonel Usman Kakanda Bello (Nigerian Army).

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Colonel U.K. Bello was killed during the April 22nd, 1990 coup.


ADC = Colonel Nuhu Bamalli

Colonel Nuhu Bamalli was the Principal Staff Officer to the President and became the President's ADC when Colonel Bello was killed. He was the commander of the Nigerian contingent of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 2003. Major General Bamalli died in a plane crash that killed many senior military officers who were on their way to Obudu for the Chief Of Army Staff's conference in 2006. He was the GOC of the 2nd Division at the time.

Major General Nuhu Bamalli
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naptu2:
General Sani Abacha, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria

ADC = Lieutenant Colonel Abdulmalik Jibrin

ADC = Major Aminu

ADC = Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Mustapha Abdallah (Nigerian Army).

Lieutenant Colonel Abdallah obtained a Certificate of Education from the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1977 and a Bachelor’s Degree in American Politics and Government from Sam Houston State University, Huntville, Texas, USA in 1989.

He also has an M. A. Public Administration, LLB and LLM Degrees from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria 2005 and 2011 respectively and Bachelor of Law from the Nigeria Law School in 2006.


Lieutenant Colonel Abdallah is the current chairman of the NDLEA.

naptu2:
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Colonel Abide Aprezi (Nigerian Army).

naptu2:
Olusegun Obasanjo, President, Head Of State and Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria

ADC = Colonel Solomon Giwa-Amu (Nigerian Army).

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Solomon Giwa-Amu from Edo State was President Obasanjo's ADC from 1999-2003. He studied law at the University of Benin and the Nigerian Law School. He also had a masters degree in strategic operations from the US Army War College.

Colonel Giwa-Amu had previously served as ADC to General Ike Nwachukwu, Military Assistant to the Chief of Logistics of the Nigerian Army and Military Assistant to the Chief of Operations of the Nigerian Army.

He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General after serving as ADC to President Obasanjo and he also served as Defence Attache to the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations, Commander of the 81 Division Military Police and Director of Defence Information. He was also very active in many charitable organisations.

Brigadier General Giwa-Amu died in a car crash in February 2008.



ADC = Colonel Chris Jemitola (Nigerian Army).

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Colonel Chris Jemitola served as ADC to President Obasanjo from 2003-2007.

After serving as ADC to the President, he served as Director of Defence Information and later as Defence Attache in the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2014.

naptu2:
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, President And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Colonel Mustapha Dennis Onoyivetta (Nigerian Army).

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Colonel Mustapha Onoyiveta from Delta State served as ADC to President Yar'Adua from 2007-2010. He played a controversial role while protecting the President during his illness, especially when the President suddenly returned to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia.

He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and posted to the Army Headquarters as head of the Army Operations Monitoring Team. He later served as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff (Generals Ihejirika and Minimah).

naptu2:
Dr Goodluck Jonathan, President, Head Of State And Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria

ADC = Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe (Nigerian Army).

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Colonel Adegbe served as the ADC to President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015.

Colonel Ojogbane Adegbe graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy with a BSc in Mathematics. He also has a masters degree in Intelligence and International Security from Kings College, London. He has served in the 26th Motorized Battalion, Ecomog in Sierra Leone, the Office of the Defence Adviser at the Nigerian High Commission in London, the Intelligence Production Centre of the Headquarters of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and the 81 Division Intelligence Command, Lagos.

naptu2:
Muhammadu Buhari, President, Head Of State and Commander In Chief Of The Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria.

ADC = Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Lawal (Nigerian Army).

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Lieutenant Colonel Lawal has been President Buhari's ADC since 2015.

naptu2:
The United States

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President Ronald Reagan and his ADC, Colonel John Kline (US Marines). Colonel Kline is carrying the nuclear football. He later became a member of the US House Of Representatives.


The President of The United States has 5 full time ADCs (one each from the army, navy, air force, marines and coast guard) and 45 part time ADCs. One of the full time ADCs must be with the president at all times (hence the nickname "elbow man" ).



The ADC also acts as the Presidents Personal Assistant when the Personal Assistant is unavailable. The President's ADC is usually of the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or its equivalent.


President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was crippled by polio, but he didn't want the US public to know about it, so he often leaned on his ADC when he had to stand in public (he also used the Secret Service to prevent photographers from taking pictures of him when he was in his wheelchair or had to be assisted in public).

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President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his army ADC, Major General Edwin Martin "Pa" Watson. Notice that the President is supporting himself with his cane on his left hand and he has his right hand in his ADC's arm (remember Yar'Adua?). (Roosevelt was usually assisted by his son or his ADC when he had to stand in public).


General George Washington retained his aide-de-camp when he became the first President of the United States. All US presidents have had military ADCs since then. The job of the full time ADCs initially included coordinating the military units that provide services to the president, eg The White House Mess/kitchen (navy), The Old Guard (army), HMX1 (Marine Helicopter Squadron), the 89th Airlift Wing (Air Force 1), Marine Security Company Camp David, Marine Presidential Guard (The White House), etc, but these services are now coordinated by the White House Military Office.

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his Naval ADC, Captain Daniel J. Callaghan, taking the salute of a composite Battalion of the 14th Infantry at Gatun Locks, Panama Canal Zone, as they were disembarking from USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) on 18 February 1940. (Daniel Callaghan attained the rank of Rear Admiral before he was killed during the 2nd World War when an enemy shell hit his flagship).

The full-time ADCs also assist the president at military parades, military and state funerals, wreath laying ceremonies and medal presentation ceremonies. The ADCs also act as the president's personal assistant when his personal assistant is unavailable.

President Barrack Obama's former ADC from 2012-2014, US Marine Corp Lieutenant Colonel Lee Meyer (extreme right on the stage) assists the President as he presents medals of honour to military veterans.
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Colonel Meyer said that he was told, when he was appointed as the President's ADC, that it's a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week job. “I really realised that I was married when I told my wife that I couldn’t do something she wanted me to do because my president needed me ... and she said that wasn’t a good enough excuse,” said Meyer, who has been married for about a year


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US President Jimmy Carter at Dodan Barracks. Beside President Carter is the parade commander. Behind them is the Commander of the (Nigerian) Brigade of Guards, Colonel Mamman Vatsa and beside Vatsa (in white) is President Carter's ADC.


The full time ADCs carry the president's emergency nuclear satchel, aka the nuclear football (a Halliburton Zero briefcase). This has been the case since the early 1960s when John F. Kennedy was president. The nuclear football contains options for launching a nuclear strike, a code book and a communication system by which the President can transmit his orders to the National Command Centre. The main purpose of the nuclear football is to authenticate that it is actually the President that is giving the order to launch nuclear weapons and to ensure that he can give that order from where ever he is in the world.

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Presidents Obasanjo and Clinton with their ADCs. I think President Clinton's ADC in this picture was Colonel Dana Pittard, while President Obasanjo's ADC was the late Colonel Solomon Giwa-Amu.

The president also keeps a plastic card called "the biscuit" in his pocket. This card contains launch codes for nuclear weapons and is used in conjunction with the nuclear football.

The president has been separated from his ADC (and the nuclear football) a few times. John Hinckley shot President Reagan in 1981 and Reagan's chief detail immediately pushed him into the limousin and ordered the driver to drive to the hospital. The ADC (and thus the nuclear football) was left behind. The nuclear biscuit couldn't be found at first, but it was later found amongst President Reagan's bloody clothes in a plastic bag at the hospital.

On one occassion President Clinton left his ADC behind when he suddenly decided to leave a hotel at which he was attending a function. The ADC had to run all the way back to the White House (it wasn't safe to take a taxi while carrying the nuclear football).

President Clinton also once misplaced the nuclear biscuit and this earned him severe criticism from several of his ADCs many years later.

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US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Buzz" Patterson and President Bill Clinton. Lieutenant Colonel Patterson was President Clinton's Air Force ADC from 1996-1998.

In an extremely unusual move, Colonel Patterson wrote a book (after he had retired from the Air Force and Bill Clinton had left the White House) in which he viciously criticised President Clinton (I think it was in this book that he revealed that President Clinton once lost "The Biscuit" [a small notebook that contains the codes for launching a nuclear strike). The book is called, "Dereliction of Duty: Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America's National Security".


US Marine Lieutenant Colonel David Kalinske was President Obama's Marine ADC until 2010. Interestingly, Colonel Kalinske was a footballer in school and he ended up carrying the most important football in the world for the US President.

President Obama with David Kalinske and his family.

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President Obama with David Kalinske and family on Colonel kalinske's last day as the President's ADC.
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naptu2:
The UK

In the United Kingdom, an aide-de-camp is a senior member of the armed forces or a member of the royal family. Equerries on the other hand are usually of the rank of major, lieutenant colonel or colonel and are appointed only to senior members of the royal family. There are now three equerries to the Queen of the United Kingdom, at least one of whom is in attendance on the Sovereign on a daily basis.

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Queen Elizabeth, President Obasanjo, the Commander of the Brigade of Guards and (behind) Major James Duckworth-Chad (the Queen's equerry). Major Duckworth-Chad is from a very influential family.


Lieutenant Commander Andrew Canale (Royal Navy) was the Queen's equerry from 2012 - 2015. In the pictures below he helps the Queen to hold a cake that was presented to her by an Asian Women's Group during a visit to Chadwell Heath Community Centre on July 16, 2015 in Chadwell Heath, United Kingdom.

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Wing Commander Samuel Fletcher (Royal Air Force) is the Queen's current equerry. In the picture below he welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family to Buckingham Palace as they arrive to meet the Queen.
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naptu2:
France

In general, there are three ADCs of the president, including one who traditionally serves in the French Army, and all of whom are at the rank of lieutenant colonel. In essence, their mission is to transport the briefcase permitting the use of nuclear weapons. They can also provide general assistance to the President: For instance, at times aides-de-camp are seen placing the president's speech on his lectern when he arrives, or holding up notes during award ceremonies to remind him of the official words to be pronounced when handing over medals.


French President Francois Holland (C) gives documents to his aide-de-camp after a meeting entitled 'Climate, Energy and Society: the College de France in Paris, France, 09 November 2015.

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When the president travels, an aide-de-camp often rides in the front passenger seat of the presidential car. He is one of the people who are closest to the president.


Nicolas Sarkozy and his ADC
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