Civil societies demand removal of military chiefs

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the Coalition of Civil Rights for Justice, Peace and Security, has said the rising insecurity in the country requires President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately remove the military chiefs.

The coalition noted on Monday that the tenures of the service chiefs expired on July 13, 2019, having spent the statutory four years after they were appointed on July 13, 2015.

The civil society, in a statement by its Executive Secretary, Abubakar Bauchi, insisted that it was time for the President to listen to the nationwide agitations by putting a new security architecture in place.

The coalition, while bemoaning the continuous retention of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said it was not only affecting the morale of military personnel but also responsible for the inefficiency in the security strategies.

The coalition said, “We note with regret that the continued retention of the Chief of Defence Staff and the other service chiefs, despite the fact that their constitutional tenure of office lapsed since July 13, 2019, is not in the spirit and letters of the armed forces of Nigeria.

“The inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to the voice of reason and retire the security chiefs has not helped matters. The development has in no small measure contributed to stagnation in the career of able military personnel and their morale in professional duties has been dampened.

“The coalition appeals to the President to immediately do the needful by retiring the service chiefs. Their continued stay in office will amount to a gross violation of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and will also demoralise officers and men who cannot grow in the system.

“More importantly, their stay in office may have been responsible for the so much security lapses we have in the country today.”