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Tag: Service Chiefs

  • Appointment of Service Chiefs: Ohanaeze Nidgbo complains bitterly over Buhari’s ‘snub’ of South East zone

    Appointment of Service Chiefs: Ohanaeze Nidgbo complains bitterly over Buhari’s ‘snub’ of South East zone

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent sack and appointment of new service chiefs.

    The apex South East organisation in a letter by its president, Amb. Prof. George Obiozor on Wednesday said the change in the security architecture will go a long way to address the nation’s lingering security challenges.

    While appreciating the president for the appointment, especially, that of Major General Lucky Irabor who hails from Delta State, the group however berated the president for excluding the South East zone in the appointments.

    See letter below:

     

  • Buhari can’t single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs – Falana

    Buhari can’t single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs – Falana

    Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of new Service Chiefs following the resignation of the former officers.

    In a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, Mr Falana quoted a 2013 judgment which described the appointments of Service Chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.

    Consequently, he said the Service Chiefs have only been nominated but not appointed.

    “Yesterday, President Buhari was reported to have appointed new service chiefs for the armed forces.

    “Upon a critical review of the law on the subject matter the members of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAP) have found that the appointments remain inchoate as President Muhammadu Buhari has not forwarded the names of the proposed service chiefs to the National Assembly for approval in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act.

    “The appointments of service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly which had been the practice since 1999 was challenged in the Federal High Court sometime in 2008 by Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN (the current Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity) in the case of Keyamo v President Goodluck Jonathan (unreported Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/611/2008).

    “In his landmark judgment delivered on July 2, 2013, Adamu Bello J. (as he then was) held that it was illegal and unconstitutional, null and void for the President to single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly having regards to the combined effect of Section 218 of the Constitution and section 18 (1) & (3) of the Armed Forces Act..,” the statement read.

    “Because it was acknowledged that the judgment was sound and unimpeachable the Federal Government did not challenge any aspect of it at the Court of Appeal.

    “To that extent, the judgment is binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of section 287of the Constitution”.

    Falana and ASCAB, therefore, called on President Buhari to forward the names of the proposed Service Chiefs to both houses of the National Assembly for confirmation, stating that a failure to do so, means that the said appointments are liable to be set aside on the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court.

  • Photo: Buhari meets new Service Chiefs in Aso Villa

    Photo: Buhari meets new Service Chiefs in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the new service Chiefs.

    The meeting is being held behind closed-door at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

    This first meeting between the Commander-In-Chief and the new leaders of the Armed Forces is coming one day after the president accepted the immediate resignation of the older Service Chiefs and appointed new officers as replacements.

    The new Service Chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

    Their appointment comes after numerous calls for the sack of the former Service Chiefs over the increasing insecurity in the country.

  • Replacement of Service Chiefs came too late as insurgency has gone national – Rep Rima Shawulu

    Replacement of Service Chiefs came too late as insurgency has gone national – Rep Rima Shawulu

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    A member of the House of Representatives, Rep Rimamande Shawulu on Tuesday said the replacement of Service Chiefs by President Muhamnadu Buhari came too late as insurgency has gone national.
    It was politically designed to assuage the political elites in Nigeria because of the lopsided structure of the military apparatus and other security Agencies in Nigeria.
    Shawulu a former Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Army in the 8th Assembly disclosed this in an exclusive chat with TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG).
    The Taraba Lawmaker described Buhari’s action as long over due because he “ought to have effected these changes two years.
    Hear Him:
    This new appointment of service chiefs, do you think it will give us the required succour in combating insecurity.
    “”In the first place the decision is more political. The decision was arrived at to assuage the feelings of Nigerians who have complained repeatedly that one, the appointment of the service chiefs and indeed of the security agencies head were loopsided in favour of one section of the country and so this decision and the changes are made to assuage those feelings.
    Secondly you would also note that both chambers of the national assembly have repeatedly called for the removal of the service chiefs and so this decision is also made to appeal to that section of the political elites which has been consistently complaining about the perceived non performance of the service chiefs.
    Like I said in my contributions in one of the plenary sessions, the fixation we have had in the national assembly on the perceived incompetence of the service chiefs is not in my opinion a proper way to look at the security challenges we have in the country.
    Like I said before there is no new service chiefs that will be appointed that has not been part of the army high command for instance.
    And of course if we are complaining that the army and the military have not performed well in the north east and then you bring two former commanders of this forces in the north east, the chief of defence staff. If you say the military has not performed well in the north east and you are bringing people who were part of the command structure in the north east.
    General Irabor was a commander of the operation and General Attahiru too was a commander of the operation there, so you can see that that is really no response because in looking at change of personalities as the basis for improvement in the fight against insurgency is just one part of the question.
    The second part of the question which we don’t usually want to look at is the fact that you need to look at the whole military structure and the reason why we have boko haram today to be able to understand how you can solve the problem because the problem of insurgency, the problem of insecurity has widen so much especially in he last few years affecting almost all the States of the federation.
    I am sure you have seen videos of some armed gangs in forested areas of the southern part of the country circulating all over.
    The Governor of Niger State and some political office holders complaining of the activities of bandits or whatever you call them in Niger State and Niger state shares boundary with Abuja.
    You also note last week or early this week, the Governor of Nasarawa State came to Abuja to say that boko haram was in Nasarawa state and Nasarawa state also share boundary with the FCT.
    You know that the problem we have is a very big problem that has to go beyond the change of office holders.
    I must admit that, in my view, the service chiefs stayed too long way beyond what they should have been allowed to do because their staying in office for so long actually affected the morale of the senior officers.
    The reason is that every military person, every class that passes out of the army training school hopes that one of its class mates, one person in their class will rise to become the chief of army staff or the chief of air staff or the chief of naval staff; because this people stayed beyond their legal mandate because I am not of sure what the position of the law is, but I don’t think they should have stayed beyond four years, that is two terms.
    The fact that they have stayed so long meant that several cadres, several classes have been forced to retire from the military without their class mates achieving this highest rank in the military and that is a distortion of service and that in my opinion should not have been allowed to happen.
    And of course that would have also dampen the morale because it may have given the impression that whoever was in charge did not trust officers who were below those ranks.
    So this thing that has taken place now should have taken place at least two years ago in my own opinion.
  • Appointment of service chiefs not based on federal character – Presidency

    Appointment of service chiefs not based on federal character – Presidency

    The presidency has the dismissed accusations that President Buhari failed to comply with federal character, in making the latest appointments of service chiefs.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Tuesday said the appointment of security chiefs is not subject to federal character.

    He spoke as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

    According to him, while certain appointments are subject to Federal Character, security is not one of those.

    “There are certain appointments that are subject to federal character, for instance, the constitution says that there must be a minister from each state of the country but there are certain appointments that are also not subject to federal character and one of them is in the security,” he said.

    READ ALSO Service Chiefs Replacement: Lagos PDP hails President Buhari

    “In security, they are not subject to Federal Character. It is about competence; it is about the ability to deliver.

    “So, the president will appoint whoever he feels is fit and proper and will deliver to the best level for the country and for Nigerians”.

    Adesina’s comments come hours after the President appointed new Service Chiefs following the resignation of the former officers.

    Major-General Leo Irabor replaced General Abayomi Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao replaced Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo replaced Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff; while General Ibrahim Attahiru replaced Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai as Chief of Army Staff.

  • Insecurity: Senators urge new service chiefs to commence work immediately

    Insecurity: Senators urge new service chiefs to commence work immediately

    Senators have urged the new Service Chiefs to commence work immediately by addressing security challenges facing the country.

    A cross section of senators interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday lauded the appointment of the new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.
    Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), said the appointment had been long awaited.

    “The appointment of new service chiefs is better late than never.
    “We have been calling for this for a long time now.
    “Let us hope that this team would stem the tide of insecurity,” he said.

    Sen. Ahmed Babba Kaita (APC-Katsina), corroborated Abaribe’s claim saying that the appointment was in response to the yearnings of Nigerians.

    “It is in response to the yearnings of Nigerians and I believe we are all good for it.

    “It is a very good development and I want to believe that we are going to see a consolidation of the progress made so far because as you are all aware, in the last two months, the military have been recording successes both in the fight against Boko Haram and kidnappings.

    “We are very grateful for this development and we expect nothing less from the incoming personnel. We expect them to be ready to take over and consolidate on the security gains so far made,” he said.

    Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra ) commended Buhari for the appointment of the service chiefs.

    “I want to thank Mr President for yielding to the cries of Nigerians. I believe every journey has an end.

    “The relieved service chiefs have done very well within their own capacity and Nigerians have for long yearned for a change which is one of the mantra of the current regime.

    “It is only change that is permanent and haven done this, I want to thank the President and as well plead on the incoming service chiefs to commit their new posting toward the wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “We need to have a better security infrastructure in our country,” Ubah said.

    Buhari had appointed new Service Chiefs as follows; Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and AVM Isiaka Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

  • Why Buhari sacked, replaced Service Chiefs – Presidency

    Why Buhari sacked, replaced Service Chiefs – Presidency

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, says the President felt it was the best time to rejig the security system in the country with the appointment of new service chiefs.

    Adesina who was a guest on a monitored programmed on Channels Television on Tuesday, said this in reaction to comments that the replacement of the service chiefs may have come following various calls by Nigerians for the sack of the former officers.

    According to Adesina, “the President knew the time to do it and I believe the time has come and that is why it has been done”.

    He faulted claims that their resignation was a result of a number of security failures under their tenure or a result of the pressure mounted on the government for the sack of the service chiefs.

    “I don’t think it is a matter of right or wrong,” Adesina said when asked to clarify the situation, adding: “it is just a matter of doing what is best for the country at the best time”.

    “It will not be right to say one side was right or one side was wrong because the President even in the statement we issued, also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their contribution to engendering a safer country.

    “That shows that by and large, he was satisfied with their performances and he just felt it was time to rejig the system; have fresh energy, have fresh blood, have fresh ideas”.

    Following the resignation of the service chiefs, Major-General Leo Irabor replaced General Abayomi Olonisakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao replaced Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo replaced Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff; while General Ibrahim Attahiru replaced Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai as Chief of Army Staff.

  • Appointment of new Service Chiefs late – PDP

    Appointment of new Service Chiefs late – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari as rather late in the day, when much harm had already been done to the national security.

    The party said the belated replacement of the outgoing wearied Service Chiefs, after much damage to the nation, shows President Buhari as a leader who has always refused to heed to wise counsel by well-meaning Nigerians but continually leads the country to a dire strait.

    It noted that such unpatriotic, self-conceited and narrow-minded approach to leadership is responsible for the escalated insecurity and avoidable loss of lives; economic recession with excruciating hardship as well as widened divisions in the land under Buhari’s watch.

    The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan said that if Buhari had acted when the party and other well-meaning Nigerians including the two chambers of the National Assembly impressed upon him to do so, the security situation in the country would not have degenerated to this abysmal level.

    The party further said; “We hope President Buhari uses this as a turning point to learn to listen to wise counsel and not always set our nation on the path of destruction before acting.

    “Nevertheless, our party expresses hope that the new Service Chiefs will brace up to the challenges of our nation and note that their appointment at this time, more than at any other point in our national history, demands a huge sense of commitment, responsibility and determination to secure our nation and restore peace, order and national cohesiveness in our polity.

    “Our party urges the new Service Chiefs to take urgent steps to restore professionalism, boost the morale of our troops and ensure not to fall into the indolence, corruption, recklessness, abuse of process and partisanship that characterized the tenure of the last service chiefs,” the PDP said.

    It said the new commanders must note that Nigerians are looking up to them as professionals to remove terrorists, bandits and other outlaws ravaging the nation from Nigeria’s landscape.

    The PDP demanded an immediate inquest into the tenure of the last Service Chiefs to unravel the circumstances behind the security lapses and compromises as well as accusation of involvement in the alleged looting of funds meant for the equipping and welfare of troops in the front.

    It insists that such must be the sure step towards sanitizing the security architecture as well as lifting the morale of those in the front lines risking their lives for the security of the nation.

  • Fayose calls on ICC to probe sacked service chiefs

    Fayose calls on ICC to probe sacked service chiefs

    Former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose has described the sack of Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari as a “step in the right direction.”

    He said the development is another victory for Nigerians.

    He however called for probe of the former Service Chiefs, accusing them of lining their pockets.

    In a series of tweets on Tuesday moments after their removal was announced, Fayose said: “Though coming after persistent pressure from Nigerians, President Buhari’s removal of the Service Chiefs and their replacement is a right step in the right direction. It is yet another victory for the people of Nigeria.

    “The sacked Service Chiefs only served themselves and their pockets and can at best be described as “Disservice Chiefs” under whom Nigeria became completely insecure.

    “It is my call to the ICC and other relevant authorities that tenure of the “sacked” Service Chiefs should be investigated, most importantly human rights abuses and extra judicial killings under their watch and commands.”

  • BREAKING: Buhari sacks service chiefs, makes new appointments

    BREAKING: Buhari sacks service chiefs, makes new appointments

    President Muhammadu Buhari has finally sacked all his Service Chiefs.

    The President has relieved the service chiefs, including the heads of the army, air force and navy of their appointments,” Femi Adesina announced on Tuesday.

    STATEMENT AS RELEASED: PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS NEW SERVICE CHIEFS

    President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.
    Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
    President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.
    The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
    The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    Femi Adesina
    Special Adviser to the President
    (Media and Publicity)
    January 26, 2021