Finally, Nigerian lawmakers Demand Sack of Service Chiefs

Finally, Nigerian lawmakers Demand Sack of Service Chiefs

Amid the pervasive state of insecurity across the country, members of both the Senate and House of Representatives, on Wednesday, at their respective plenary sessions, demanded the immediate sacking and replacement of the Service Chiefs by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senators, who spoke on the floor of their hallowed chamber, called on President Buhari to sack the four service chiefs, and appoint new ones.

They made the call while deliberating on a motion on national security challenges, and the need to restructure the nation’s security architecture.

The lawmakers set aside the whole day (Wednesday) to discuss the issue.

This, they said, is due to the increasing rate of insecurity across the country.

The debate lasted for over four hours as over 50 lawmakers took turns to make their contributions.

Top among the contributions is a call to the president to dismiss the service chiefs and appoint news ones – on grounds that they have served long enough and are bereft of ideas to tackle insecurity.

Most of them also emphasised the need for state police to be established.

Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) said at the time the service chiefs were appointed, things were not this bad.

“They have done their bits and their tenure has expired. They are illegally occupying the seat. It will be good for the government to allow the security chiefs to go and bring in new people to add vigour to the fight against security,” she said.

She also urged the lawmakers and other elites to stop using police as private security.

“We are complaining about the police not being enough. I think all of us and Nigerians should actually stop using police as private security. Let the police people go out and do their jobs.”

Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos) urged the Senate to revisit and review the recommendations made from the Security Summit in 2018 and implement them.

The lawmaker called for an amendment to the constitution to allow for state police. This is even as he commended South-West governors on the Amotekun initiative – which he said will create jobs.

Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa) said Nigeria has “never had it this bad” in the history of insecurity.

Like his colleagues, he said the security chiefs have done their best “but have run out of ideas.”

“There’s grumbling within the military. Yesterday’s survivors are today’s victims and today’s victims are tomorrow’s survivors.

“Mr President should change the security apparatus. And if we need foreign help, we should not be ashamed of asking for help,” he said.

For the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, the current personnel strength of 300,000 to police about 200 million citizens and the constitutional structure of the police force is appalling.

He, however, wondered if state governors can cater for state police.

“Assuming we decide to go the route of state police, we don’t want to create a Nigerian police and give it another name. If we create state police today, what are the challenges the police is facing that will not be faced by the community police?

“One of the problems is that we have not created enough resources for them to perform their job. Now, we have state governments who want to create State police.

“These are the same state governments that are not able to pay salaries of workers. If we create the state police, we will go back to the Nigerian police and have the same challenges if not worse,” he said.

For George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers), Nigeria needs to turn back to God.

“Anyone that sows the wind will reap the whirlwind. Today, we are reaping the fruit of what we sowed,” he said.

“This wind by the grace of God will go away. It will not be there forever. It is not a time to lament or blame each other.

“We should go back to God as a country and say we are sorry. I have seen such examples in the Bible. If we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us and help us 2nd Chronicles 20:20.”

After hours of debate, the lawmakers urged the president to declare a national security emergency.

The Senate also summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, to appear before it next Wednesday to brief the lawmakers on the concept of community policing and other security issues.

The Senate also set up a 17-man Ad-hoc Committee to engage the security agencies and report back to the Senate after two weeks.

The senate leader, Abdullahi Yayaya, will chair the committee.

Members of the committee include, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Sabi Abdullahi, Ali Ndume, Aliyu Wamakko, Dauda Haliru, Kashim Shettima and Bala Na’Allah.

Others are George Sekibo, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Gaya, Gershom Bassey, Stella Oduah and Ibikunle Amosun.

Also part of the committee are Abba Moro, Yahaya Abdullahi Yayaha and Suleiman Abdu Kwari.

Reps Call for Resignation of Service Chiefs

In the House of Representatives, the agitation for the resignation of the Service Chiefs followed the deteriorating security situation in the country.

It was sequel to the unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) at plenary on Wednesday.

The House urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs, if they fail to resign.

Moving the motion earlier, Monguno said that territorial integrity of Nigeria was being threatened following the resurgence of insurgency in the North East.

Mongonu who represents Monguno/Marte/Nganzai Federal Constituency of Borno said that the attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East zone have lingered for more than seven years.

He recalled that when President Muhammadu Buhari came into power in 2015, the activities of insurgents were reduced to the barest minimum.

Monguno said that the feat achieved by the Nigerian Armed Forces had led to increased economic activities within the North-East zone.

He however said, “Recently, the Boko Haram insurgents who were relegated to the background are now unleashing terror in Borno and Yobe states.

“The insurgents have forced the Nigerian Military to close traffic on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road for some days; the Damaturu-Maiduguri road is the only access from Maiduguri to other parts of Nigeria. “The closure of the road is an indication that the Boko Haram insurgents have seized the road and attacked communities on that axis.”

According to him, incessant attacks on communities along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, have forced the residents to flee to refugee camps in Maiduguri for safety.

Also, Rep. Ahmadu Jaha (APC-Borno) called for the sacking of the service chiefs, saying that they have failed to decimate Boko Haram in the North-East. Jaha who represents Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency of Borno said that contrary to the claims by the military, his constituents were still being attacked and displaced.

“I know what I am saying; I know that tomorrow, people can come for me; I am calling for immediate removal of all the service chiefs and their immediate replacement with competent ones.

“The truth of the matter is that they have overstayed and the officers under them are not stimulated (motivated) to work, perform and to end this war,” he said. After unanimous adoption of the motion, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila mandated the Committee on Defece to ensure implementation of the resolution.

By PRNigeria