Service Chiefs: Time for change of guard?

With the mounting security challenges across the country, coupled with the fact that they have been given more than their lawful two terms, there is a growing agitation for President Muhammadu Buhari to change the nation’s security chiefs as IBRAHEEM MUSA reports

Unwittingly, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Abubakar Yari, the Zamfara state governor, gave vent to his colleagues’ frustration on June 15, 2018. On that day, the governor dropped a bombshell at his Talatan Mafara home town and since then, the matter has remained on the nation’s political front burner. In frustration, the governor told newsmen that henceforth, he ceases to be the Chief Security Officer of Zamfara state as the title is a misnomer. As governor, he has no control over the security machinery in his state as he can neither direct an officer on what to do or sanction him if he errs. The result, according to Yari, has reduced Zamfara state to a killing field as no week passes without an attack. In fact, between March and June, there have been 115 attacks which have claimed 435 lives this year.

Significantly, after Yari’s histrionics, tongues started waging and fellow governors, state and federal legislators, as well as legal luminaries started chorusing his lamentation. Thereafter, the agitation for sacking the nation’s security chiefs took centre stage. Yet again, Governor Yari led the cavalry charge, following last week’s massacre in Plateau state, as chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

 

Govs meet on Plateau massacre

Specifically, the Nigerian Governors Forum, led by Governor Yari, held a marathon meeting which started penultimate Wednesday and lingered to the early hours of Thursday. Essentially, the forum had brainstormed on how best to surmount the unending bloodbath across the country.

In the end, the governors commiserated with the government and people of Plateau state, asked the security agencies to fish out the killers in Plateau state and condemned the mass killings in three of the local government areas. The governors, according to Yari, also “resolved to hold a one-day meeting with the security chiefs to come up with a holistic solution to the country’s security situation.”

 

…Visit Lalong, warn security chiefs

Afterwards, the Nigerian Governors Forum went to Jos to commiserate with Governor Simeon Lalong over the tragedy that occurred in Barkin-Ladi, Riyom and Jos South local governments on June 24. Yari, on that visit, gave security agencies a yellow card even before the proposed meeting with the top brass. Pointblank, the Zamfara state governor asked the security chiefs to stop the killings across the country or get booted out of office. However, before the red card is issued, the governors will interface with them to “understand where we are and how this thing (killings) is depleting the relationship among the citizens.” Thereafter, if the situation doesn’t improve, Yari had threatened that “we have no option than to ask the President to relieve them of their responsibilities.’’

In addition, Yari hinted that their resolve was partly hinged on collective self preservation. According to him, “we must do something as leaders now; if not, the killers will soon come after us the leaders of the people.’’ Consequently, the governors “want to come together as a family to fight this menace because the killers are everywhere,’’ Yari had argued. To this end, “we encourage Mr. President that whoever is found wanting in these killings should be brought to book.”

“They (security chiefs) should do their jobs perfectly or else, we have no option than to ask the President to relieve them, that’s the only point.” Specifically, on the NGF delegation were Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Sokoto state governor and Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi state, including Chief Samuel Ortom , the Benue state governor, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state.

 

Saraki joins the chorus

Similarly, Senate President Bukola Saraki, without mincing words, wants the security chiefs to give way for those who can perform better. According to him, “if somebody is not capable and cannot do  what he has to do, let others have the opportunity to do it.” In his view, the rivalry amongst the various agencies, resulting in poor coordination, is responsible for the present security challenges. In particular, Saraki recalled that ‘’we have had situations where security officials have told us there is poor coordination.” In some cases, the various heads are not on speaking terms and they seldom attend meetings, the senate president also revealed. Security, he pointed out, is beyond politics as people’s lives and property are involved.

Significantly, the Senate president recalled that “the National Assembly, under my leadership, many months back, had seen this danger.” The legislature, Saraki further said, had called for a security summit, where the failure of the security architecture was discussed. However, instead of bracing up, “some service chiefs decided, in their own wisdom, that there is no need for them to work with the National Assembly to address these issues.” According to him, stopping the killings across the country “requires drastic action, it requires a collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government.”

 

Tambuwal echoes Saraki

In the same vein, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state called for the removal of security chiefs, especially to allow for fresh and innovative ideas. In his opinion, there is no need retaining security heads that cannot find solutions to the nation’s security challenges. According to him, “what happened in Plateau state was unacceptable, President Muhammadu Buhari should think of changing his service chiefs because they failed the country.” In addition, the present security strategies, according to Tambuwal, should be changed and fresh ideas be embraced.

 

Yoruba elders join the fray

Similarly, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), after its National Executive Council meeting, had asked President Buhari to shove the service chiefs aside for their collective failure. In its communiqué, YCE had passed a vote of no confidence on them, arguing that they have overstayed their welcome. The communiqué, which was signed by the YCE Secretary General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, and chairman of Ekiti Council of Elders, Prof. J. O. Oluwasanmi, said “most Nigerians have lost confidence in the security chiefs.” In addition, it came down heavily on the military, which it described as partisan. According to the elders, “a military, which publicly claimed to be neutral where the laws of the land are being violated and innocent citizens are mindlessly murdered by armed herdsmen, is definitely partisan and can no longer be trusted to protect all Nigerians.”

 

Miyetti Allah pleads for service chiefs

Expectedly, the service chiefs have their own army of supporters who want them to remain in office. In particular, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural group, has taken sides with them. Last week, Alhaji Saleh Al-Hassan, its Secretary-General, alleged that corrupt politicians are behind the agitation for the sack of service chiefs. In addition, he also accused “evangelicals that preach hatred in churches and mosques and desperate politicians that are facing corruption charges as the drivers of the conflicts.” Nigerians, according to him, should see beyond their self-serving agitations, as there are more to them than meet the eye. “Most of these politicians,” Sale pointed out that “own armed thugs and militias across the state. The government should also find those behind the importation of large arms into the country.”

Ironically, he advocated for overhauling the security architecture of the country but in the same breath said “the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police are doing their best.” However, the Secretary General asked Nigerians to support security agencies to identify the perpetrators and the promoters of the prevailing crises across the country. On its part, Miyetti Allah has been “partnering the security agencies in terms of giving them critical intelligence where we suspect there are cattle rustlers and criminals,” Saleh said.

Categorically, Saleh absolved Fulani herdsmen of the recent killings in Riyom, Barikin Ladi and Jos south local government areas. According to him, “we are not responsible for the killings in Plateau state. There are crises between farmers and herders all over the country, particularly in the North-Central geopolitical zone.” Similarly, he argued that the crises are neither ethnic nor religious as they border on land and natural resources. In his view, fifth columnists have been frustrating the federal government’s attempts to bring lasting solutions to the conflict. In this regard, Saleh blasted the National Assembly, where “policies aimed at solving these problems are strongly resisted.” In particular, he recalled that the legislators shot down attempts to form a Commission for Grazing Reserves. In contrast, he praised the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, for suggesting solutions to the farmers, herders’ crises, but people have been reading political motives to them.

“Today, we have a National Livestock Development Plan that is well articulated,” Saleh pointed out that “but the same people that are saying we should ranch our cows are now saying they will not accept ranches.”

 

Yoruba youths back service chiefs

Like Miyetti Allah, the National Committee of Yoruba Youth has thrown its weight behind the service chiefs. Specifically, it advised Buhari to disregard the calls for their sack as the issue has been politicised. As a result, “people who are supposed to work with government and the affected communities, as stakeholders,’’ the group had argued, ‘’ have resorted into making political gains out of these unfortunate incidences that have led to the loss of lives on many Nigerians and properties.” In addition, the group regards the calls for the service chiefs’ sack, without giving reasons, “as a serious attempt at demoralizing the nation’s armed forces, who are currently engaged in tackling series of insurgencies and internal security challenges.” The calls, according to the group, “are politically motivated by some self-serving politicians and their sympathisers.”

In summary, the Yoruba Youths alleged that “we have observed the series of a well-funded and politically orchestrated falsehood and the  campaign of calumny against our military, especially the Nigerian army, from some politicians and self-serving individuals.’’ In addition, these individuals are recruiting and arming various militias who are terrorising communities, the Yoruba Youths further alleged. However, the group advised federal government to improve funding for the armed forces, in order to improve their capacity in tackling crisis.

 

Is the end in sight?

In 2015, barely two months in office, President Buhari had appointed the service chiefs and based on the Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service, they are supposed to serve for two years. However, at the pleasure of the president, the tenure can be extended in so far as they have not reached the retirement age of 56 years and/or attained the maximum 35 years service. Last year, an air of uncertainly had enveloped the polity around June as their two-year term was coming to an end. At that time, President Buhari was in the United Kingdom receiving medical treatment and Vice president Yemi Osinbajo was holding forte for him. However, before his departure, Buhari had not officially announced their successors and a constitutional lacuna was in the offing. Politicians, legal luminaries and experts in military affairs were divided on whether or not an acting president can appoint service chiefs.

Surprisingly, Nigerians learnt that before his departure, the president had extended their tenure by five months. On that note, General Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ekwe Ite-Ibas as well as Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff will leave office by December, 2017. However, to the chagrin of the military establishment, the quartet got another extension last December. Significantly, this was the third time that the CDS and service chiefs were getting tenure elongation as in 2016, General Olonisakin, Vice Admiral Ite-Ibas and Air Vice Marshal Abubakar got a one year extension. Olonisakin, Ite-Ibas and Abubakar, by virtue of age or length of service, were due for retirement in December 2016 according to reports.

As the July date of their first appointments comes closer, coupled with the heightened insecurity across the country, agitations for the replacement of service chiefs has now assumed a life of its own. After all said and done, they may not survive this time around.

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