At his first parley with the new service chiefs Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari told the appointees that Nigerians were expectant of what they can offer in terms of value-addition to secure the country.
And in no unmistakable terms, the president also declared that the country was at the moment in a state of emergency and needed to be rescued from insurgents, bandits and related criminals.
The service chiefs include Chief of Defence Staff Major-General Leo Irabor; Chief of Army Staff Major-General I. Attahiru; Chief of Naval Staff Rear Admiral AZ Gambo; and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal I.O Amao.
The top security chiefs were led to the meeting by the Minister of Defence Major-General Bashir Magashi (retd).
A statement by the special adviser on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, quoted the president as charging the service chiefs to be loyal and patriotic in their service to the country.
Titled “President Buhari charges new service chiefs,” the statement quoted Buhari to have said: “We’re in a state of emergency. Be patriotic; serve the country well, as your loyalty is to the country.
“There’s nothing I can tell you about the service because you are in it. I was also in it, and I will pray for you. I also assure you that whatever I can do as Commander-in-Chief will be done, so that the people will appreciate your efforts.
“You know the stage we were in 2015, you know the stage we are now, and the undertakings we made. We promised to secure the country, revive the economy, and fight corruption. None has been easy, but we have certainly made progress.”
Adesina further stated that the president charged the service chiefs to prioritise the welfare of their officers and men, whom he said should be made to feel physically and professionally secure.
Also on his twitter handle, the president said: “I met with the service chiefs today. They’re fully aware of the high expectations of Nigerians regarding security nationwide. I reminded them their loyalty is to Nigeria and asked them to prioritise the welfare of their officers & men. As their C-in-C my full support is assured.”
The president also assured that the administration would do its best in terms of equipment and logistics.
Irabor assures
Fielding questions from reporters after the meeting, General Irabor saidPresident Buhari told them of the citizens’ expectations which he (Irabor) assured they would give their very best in meeting the set target.
“The message from the President is that we, knowing the current security environment, must do everything possible to add value to the security disposition and the expectations are high and that we are quite mindful of that expectation. So, we collectively will work to achieve that,” Irabor said.
He said his team of service chiefs were not oblivious of the demands, promising to do their best to restore security across the country.
NGF urges consolidation
Meanwhile, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) Wednesday charged the new service chiefs to build on the successes of their predecessors.
NGF chair and Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong gave the charge in a statement Wednesday in Jos.
In the statement signed by the governor’s Director of Press, Dr. Makut Macham, the forum commended the immediate past service chiefs for giving their best in the service of the nation.
“Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong in a statement commended the President for taking the decision and asked the new Service Chiefs to put in their best not only to meet the expectations of the Commander-in-Chief, but also that of Nigerians who have high expectations for enhanced security and safety of lives and properties.
“He charged them to build on the successes of their predecessors and also learn from their challenges in order to address the lingering problems of terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes that the nation has been battling to contain,” the statement said.
He assured them of the northern governors’ support in addressing insecurity in the region and the nation as a whole, so citizens could pursue their legitimate businesses without any hindrance.
The governors appealed to Nigerians to support and pray for the new Service Chiefs “as they provide leadership for the patriotic officers and men of the Armed Forces to put up a final onslaught against protracted security challenges.”
Governor Lalong also thanked the former service chiefs for their courage, sacrifices and commitment in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and dealing with internal threats during their stewardship, and wished them well in their future endeavours.
Omo-Agege, Ndume laud Buhari
Also, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo – Agege and Chairman Senate Committee on Army Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) have commended President Buhari on the appointments of new service chiefs .
While Omo- Agege in a statement issued in Abuja Wednesday expressed his excitement on the choice of Irabor as the new CDS, Ndume, in an interview with journalists, described the change of guards as a welcome development.
Specifically, Omo-Agege in the statement signed by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga , said he was elated with Irabor’s appointment .
He expressed optimism that Irabor’s competence and decades of experience in tackling security challenges in the country would come to bear during his tenure.
The Delta Central lawmaker thanked President Buhari for appointing an illustrious son of the state into the exalted position.
“I join other Nigerians in congratulating you on your recent elevation as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
“Without question, your towering achievements in the military from Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Force Commander Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin Area, Chief of Defence, Training and Operations (CDTOP) at the Defence Headquarters clearly justify your appointment as that which aptly fits the description of putting a round peg in a round hole,” he stated.
In his own reaction, Senator Ndume said with the appointments, the president kept to is words.
He said: ” I remember in his New Year broadcast, he made a promise that he was going to re-jig the security apparatus and that he assured Nigerians that the war against insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality that have been disturbing the country will be properly addressed.
“This (appointment of new Service Chiefs) is part of the implementation of his promise and also it is just a change of guards, so to say. But the good thing about it is that the new Service Chiefs are not only qualified but they have the field and operational experience.
“The CDS, I know him very well, I have worked with him in Maiduguri. He was a very performing officer and from there he was posted to the Joint Military Taskforce in the Lake Chad region and we have seen how gallant, intelligent and humble he is. It was during his tenure that he upgraded the civil-Army relations to a next level. He is experienced enough.
“The Chief of Army Staff was also a Theatre Commander at one-time, even though his tenure was very short. He knows the terrain very well, he has the experience.
“Also, the Chief of Air Staff was at the theatre. In fact, at one-time, he was the deputy commandant of the Operation Lafiya Dole. And even the Chief of Naval Staff is not new to the terrain having come from Kano; he knows the place very well.
“So, we are expecting that with this development and being conversant with the insurgency problem in the North-East particularly, and in the country in general, Nigerians by the several calls they have made for the change of the Service Chiefs, have very high expectation on the new Service Chiefs. But I am confident that this crop of people will be able to deal or address this issue.
“The good side of it is that the military hardware ordered by the government have started arriving and that will give them a better capability or capacity.”
NEF cautions
But the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said the appointment of new service chiefs will be a lot more effective if they are inspired by the commander-in-chief, through active involvement and interest in their conducts, records and performances.
In a statement made available to Blueprint Wednesday by NEF’s Director Publicity and Advocacy Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the elders warned Nigerians “not to be misled into thinking that appointment of new service chiefs will dramatically change the nation’s fortunes in its fight against multiple security threats.”
NEF advised President Buhari to reduce his distance from defence and security matters and hold service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures.
The statement reads: “Northern Elders Forum welcomes the appointment of new service chiefs. In our current circumstances, where the nation is being swamped by old and new security challenges, a change of leadership in our Armed Forces should be a signal that President Muhammadu Buhari accepts the need to affect major changes in his disposition to security issues and improvements in the nation’s capacities to deal with security and public safety.
“Nigerians will hope that these changes, even if belated, are intended as a response to the persistent demands for changes at leadership levels as part of the requirements to improve professionalism, morale and integrity of command structures of our Armed Forces.
“The Forum warns the nation not be misled into thinking that these changes will dramatically change the nation’s fortunes in its fight against multiple security threats. The new service chiefs will be a lot more effective if they are inspired by a commander-in-chief, who adopts an involved and active interests in their conduct, records and performances.
“President Buhari must therefore reduce his distance from defence and security matters, and hold service chiefs and senior commanders accountable for successes and failures. The new Service Chiefs have been part of the military that has been severely challenged in the fight against a decade-old insurgency and many other threats. The only way they can retain confidence of Nigerians is to substantially improve on the records of their predecessors.
“The Forum believes that priorities of the new service chiefs should include real improvements in professional standards and morale of fighting men and women as well as fighting corruption within the Armed Forces. They will be aware that our frustrations regarding access to vital weapons and criticisms from foreign and domestic monitors of the war are related to the manner our Armed Forces execute the war, and it will be important for them to lead a military, which will operate with higher standards of respect for rules of engagement.
“The Forum invites the nation’s attention to the need to rise in support of leaders to reduce tensions and other threats to our security. Events unfolding in the Southwest, particularly inflammatory comments and threats by groups and individuals represent existential threats to the whole nation. All Nigerians must eschew the temptation to tamper with sensitive matters in pursuit of narrow goals.
“The Forum repeats its call on President Buhari to summon a meeting of Governors, leadership of security and intelligent services and other Nigerians with capacities to advise and assist in de-escalating tensions in the Southwest,” the statement said.
