Members of the Coalition of Nigeria Professionals for Peace and Good Governance (CNPPGG), have sent words of commendation to President Muhammadu Buhari, over his choice of Service Chiefs, saying the team was better positioned to achieving the mandate of securing lives and property.
Specifically, the professionals said the appointment of Major-General Lucky Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), would facilitate better coordination of the Service Chiefs, considering his operational and command capabilities that had won him many military laurels in the past.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Prof. Abiola Odukoya; National Secretary, Dr. Andy Ifeanyi and National Programme Officer, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kankara, respectively, the professionals, however, aligned with the position of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, calling for a review of the appointments, with a view to including at least a worthy senior officer of South East extraction among the Service Chiefs.
The statement reads: “We hasten to commend our amiable and progressive President, Muhammadu Buhari, for the careful selection and eventual appointment of the new set of Service Chiefs, who are coming at a time the security situation in the country is alarming. As professionals in our various fields of endeavours, we note with satisfaction, the choice of Major General Lucky Irabor, to lead the Service Chiefs in his capacity as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
“We are confident that General Irabor, having been commander, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), as well as commander of the multinational joint task force (MNJTF)- all within the troubled North East general area- knows where to hit the terrorist elements the hardest.
“However, considering our pan-Nigerian outlook, we are inclined to the appeal by South East stakeholders, led by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for the review of the less- than-a-month-old appointment of Service Chiefs. President Buhari will earn himself a prominent place in history if he gave a passionate thought to the calls for the inclusion of a senior Igbo officer in the team, which we hope will deliver the goods.
“He must resist ill-advice from certain mischievous individuals and groups, who often cast the Igbo nation in bad light, leading systematic exclusion which, to all intent and purpose, is unacceptable. In the event that our dear President remains adamant, we invite our Senators and Representatives to note this anomaly and insist on its correction before screening and confirmation actions are taken on the list of Service Chiefs forwarded for that purpose.
“As representatives of the people, they must, at all material times, uphold the sanctity of federal character principle, which invokes proportional representation in public governance process. While appreciating the fact that all ethnic groups cannot be appointed at the same time, we remind the President that among the comity of major ones, only Igbo has failed to gain his favour.”
