Buhari meets with newly appointed service chiefs in Aso Villa (read his first message to them)
- Nigeria's new service chiefs have met with President Buhari at the presidential villa
- The service chiefs met with the president a day after their appointments were announced
- There are hopes that with the new leaders on board, the fight against the Boko Haram and other security challenges will get a boost
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, January 27, met with the newly appointed service chiefs in State House.
This was disclosed by the president's special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a brief Facebook post.
Legit.ng gathers that the service chiefs in attendance are Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff, Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff and Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff.
Source: Facebook
Others are Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao and Chief of Air Staff.
What Buhari told the service chiefs
The Nation reports that President Buhari charged the new service chiefs to be patriotic.
He said:
“We’re in a state of emergency. Be patriotic, serve the country well, as your loyalty is to the country.”
The president also congratulated them on heading their various services.
He added:
“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."
He also charged them to be concerned about the morale of their officers and men, saying they should be made to feel physically and professionally secure.
He pledged that the federal government would do its best in terms of equipment and logistics.
Why Buhari appointed new service chiefs, presidency reveals
Meanwhile, the presidency has finally lifted the lids on the appointment of the new service chiefs, saying the decision was based on the need to rejig the security structure of the country.
Presidential aide, Adesina, made this revelation on Tuesday, January 26.
Source: Facebook
Adesina said President Buhari felt it was time to appoint new service chiefs, hence the decision to bring in new men with fresh ideas and strategy.
Presidency told to probe Buratai, other ex-service chiefs over corruption
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the appointment of the new service chiefs as "belated."
In a statement on Tuesday, January 26, the opposition party said the appointment is coming at the wrong time because much "harm had already been done to our national security."
The PDP also called for the probe of the former service chiefs, saying they have been alleged to have engaged in looting and sabotage of the security efforts.
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New service chiefs and the federal character principle
The presidency has explained that according to the Nigerian constitution, some appointments can be done without consideration of the federal character principle.
Adesina said that security is one of the areas where this can be allowed.
The presidential media aide added that what is more important is competence, not necessarily the idea of the federal character or ethnic background of the persons in question.
Source: Legit.ng
