The presidency wasted no time in responding to calls for the presidents ‘resignation describing it as Foolish.
In a statement titled ‘Senator Abaribe’s Call on President Buhari to resign is Foolish’, Spokesperson to the President, Garba Shehu does not see the basis upon which the president was asked to resign.
“President Buhari should resign on what basis? Just because some characters think that President Buhari should resign, then they expect him to quit. That call does not represent the opinion of the country.” Garba said.
Why Buhari Should Resign
While the senate deliberated on the deteriorating security situation in the country, Senate minority leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe called for the resignation of the Buhari led government for expressing surprise at the continuous attacks of Boko Haram and Bandits in the country as the commander in chief of the armed forces.
“Nigeria did not elect the IG, we did not elect the chief of staff, we did not elect the joint chiefs we did not elect the national security adviser, we elected the government of APC in 2015. We re-elected them in 2019. The reason why we re-elected them was that they continued to tell us that because they had the key to security…..when you want to deal with a matter you go to the head. So we will go to the government and ask this government to resign because they can no longer do anything in this country.”
The minority leader just before he landed his statement was shut up by the senate president, Ahmed Lawan, but the message had been passed across. Similarly, the opposition People’s Democratic Party has expressed worry over the President’s ignorance of the rise of insecurity in the country.
“The PDP is particularly worried over this apparent display of leadership failure as Mr. President ought to be receiving a daily brief from his service chiefs on the actual situation on the ground.”
The opposition party, therefore, backed the call for the resignation of the President.
“The PDP has described comments by President Muhammadu Buhari expressing surprise at the heightened insecurity across the country as defeatist, demoralizing and traumatizing…..the party, therefore, backs the call by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe asking President Buhari to resign.”
With the loss of lives daily by the attacks of the dreaded Boko haram terrorists and Fulani herdsmen, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday revealed that he was surprised that killings of Nigerians by these dreaded groups on daily bases continues unabated. “I was taken aback by what is happening in the North West and other parts of the country. During our campaigns, we knew about the Boko Haram. What is coming now is surprising.” Buhari said.
Incompetent Service Chiefs
The debate did not spare the service chiefs that were appointed by the president and remain in their positions long after their tenure has expired in the face of glaring incompetence. The lawmakers also called for the resignation of the service chiefs.
Senator representing Rivers state, Betty Apiafi 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 vigor to the fight against security,” she said.
Senator representing Adamawa, Elisha Abbo said Nigeria has “never had it this bad” in the history of insecurity.
“Mr. President should change the security apparatus. And if we need foreign help, we should not be ashamed of asking for help,” he said.
Similarly, the lower chamber of the national assembly following a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, asked the service chiefs to resign, failing which they should be sacked by President Buhari.
The tenure of service chiefs, Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai has since expired going by the revised Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service for officers.
The incompetence of the security apparatus in the country is glaring in the daily attacks of Boko Haram with the threat to cut of Borno state from the rest of Nigeria due to attacks on the only safe route into the hotbed of the terrorists, the public display of arms, types of machinery and killings of several captives. Bandits are making sure the country is dominated by kidnappings, robbery, and killings. And Fulani herdsmen continue to kill and terrorize farmers all over the country.
The international communities have also expressed worry over the insecurity in the country. The European Parliament in a resolution of January 16, 2020, remarked that the security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated significantly. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon condemned attacks on its humanitarian hub.
Global Terrorism Index of the Institute for Economics and Peace ranked Nigeria as the third country with the highest level of terrorist activity in 2019 after Iran and Afghanistan.
CUPP Responds
The Coalition of United Political Party (CUPP) an umbrella body of opposition parties in Nigeria has however responded to Shehu’s statement saying he “should not let the peanuts he collects for defending an incompetent regime make him speak like a roadside tout”.
“Does Garba Shehu not know that President Muhammadu Buhari should have been in Prison for life or faced death penalty for the treasonable act of overthrowing the democratically elected Government of Shehu Shagari in 1984.
“Mallam Garba Shehu should not let the peanuts he collects for defending an incompetent regime make him speak like road side tout, all brawn and no brain.
“Incase Garba Shehu has forgotten, the primary responsibility of Government is the protection of lives and properties, a simple task his paymasters legendary incompetence cannot allow him achieve. Since he does not have conscience, we advise him not to let those whose relatives are murdered every second take his case to their God.
“Mallam Garba Shehu, let your paymasters secure the lives of Nigerians or get out”. the CUPP statement read.
President Muhammadu Buhari is behind closed doors in a council meeting with his service chiefs for the umpteenth time, will the service chiefs be patriotic and drop their resignations letters after the meeting? Will Buhari stand up to his duty to Nigerians and fire them? Is it too much to ask that the killings stop?
