A NEW NIGERIA IS POSSIBLE:
Buhari sets to End Terrorism Reign in Nigeria
…Mandates New Service Chiefs: ‘No excuses, Find & Quell Boko Haram’
*Faults ‘Jonathan’s Service Chiefs’ for Disloyalty, Incompetence
*Why new Service Chiefs appointment Reflect Federal Character
*Director-Generals of Federal Ministries maintain low profile, Fear Imminent Sack
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU, CNN iReport, NORTH AMERICA & NAIJA STANDARD
FROM the visible-angry looks on the face of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari this morning in Aso Rock, it was crystal clear he was not happy by the performance of Nigeria’s former Service Chiefs appointed by ex-president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He had summoned them to the Presidential Villa. Even when they all saluted him, he looked the other way. He had told them point-blank they had failed the nation in their oath of office regarding their responsibilities to ensure safety of lives and properties against any aggression, especially terrorism. In brevity, he accused them of incompetence and disloyalty to his administration. Without wasting time, he told the Service Chiefs: “You are Fired. Hand over your to the next officer in your various command. I wish you well in your future endeavors.” That was how the Service Chiefs he inherited from Jonathan were sacked unceremoniously.
Buhari sets to End Terrorism Reign in Nigeria
Meanwhile CNN iReport gathered that Buhari have always had the belief that a new Nigeria is possible, only if he is able to get ’round pegs in round holes’, in military chiefs with specialty in operations and intelligence to dig it out with Boko Haram and by that return honor to the military. He had looked over some files of highly-intelligent military officers for some days and made up his mind to appoint the finest of Nigeria’s military officers to ‘cage Boko Haram and bring terrorism in Nigeria to a standstill.’
Having fully satisfied his conscience that he had the right military team to prosecute guerrilla warfare against the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists as a former military Head of State, he officially appointed Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Iba as Chief of Naval Staff.
Others include Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff; Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The president also appointed Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd.) as the new National Security Adviser taking over from Sambo Dasuki who resigned last week. To avoid any criticism, Buhari ensured this finest of Nigerian military reflect the federal character of the nation. This appointment was later announced through press statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the President.
But during a closed door meeting with these new Service Chiefs, prior to their official appointment today, Buhari had told them that they have to defend the integrity of Nigerian Army, bring back the honor due it by being 100% loyal, arrest every appearances of terrorism, bring the reign of Boko Haram to an end. It was a mandate he handed out to them and they all pledged their allegiance to his administration.
The Chiefs relieved of their appointments on Monday, July 13, include Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin and Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
CNN iReport investigation revealed that recent military approach of the earlier sacked Service Chiefs really got Buhari worried after he was briefed through intelligence reports that ‘Jonathan’s Service Chiefs’ hardly touch any file on intelligence gathering regarding terrorism in their offices since they were afraid Buhari could relieve them of their positions anytime. They actually waited for their sack, as they were passive on duty, indifference to work and lackadaisical in attitude.
Fear of Imminent Sack Grips Heads of Federal Ministries
Seen he manner ‘Jonathan’s Service Chiefs’ were fired, palpable fear has now gripped Director-Generals, DG of various federal ministries, as they know they are tracked, stewardship undergoing final auditing. One of the aides to the DG of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, who would not want his name in print for fear of backlash said: “ Truth is, we are all afraid of the action that would be taken by President Buhari. We have been told to maintain very low profile. Every officer in federal ministry is presently fearful over sack, even prosecution since we are all being audited. If the former military Service Chiefs could be so sacked publicly, who are we bloody civilians?”
