Despite calls for the sack of the service chiefs by the National assembly less than a week ago, its leadership is now speaking from a different side of their mouth after meeting with the president suggesting that recruitment needs to be made into the Police force to tackle banditry and kidnapping. While the Vice president revealed plans to recruit more soldiers to contain the threats to security by the Boko Haram Terrorists.
The president of the Senate Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamaila paid a visit to the president, Muhammadu Buhari concerning the resolution reached on the call for the removal of service chiefs but left the room calling for funds and recruitments.
“There is the school of thought that says since we are talking about banditry, kidnapping, and murders, what have the armed forces got to do with that, anywhere in the world? So the question then arises that if he changes the service chiefs, does that address the issues of kidnapping and banditry? The army, navy and air force are outfits set up to tackle external aggression. It is the police that is set up for internal security, such as we are all witnessing…..we explained to Mr President that we have to increase funding, we have to recruit more.” Gbajabiamaila said.
On the same day, despite the killing of over 222 people in January 2020 alone, 26 killed in Plateau in less than a week, and barely 48 hours after 18-year-old seminarian Michael Nnadi and wife of a Kaduna-based medical doctor, Philip Ataga were killed by their abductors and bodies dumped on the roadside, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo says the government is handling security well.
Osinbajo whilst receiving the clergymen from Arewa Pastors Forum for Peace said:
“We are handling security well, and as you know, including military deployment in diverse fields, like the Boko Haram in the Northeast…..We have to now recruit more into the army, and much faster than we ever did because we need men on the ground; resources also to buy more arms.”
Calls for Resignation of Service Chiefs Fall on Deaf Hears
Some senators had during a dedicated deliberation on the deteriorating security situation in the country argued that the security chiefs have done their bits and their tenures have expired.
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.
Buhari called for a meeting a day after the call by the Nation Assembly, but as usual, when they play to the gallery, no resolution was reached after the meeting. More lives are being lost daily while they carry on like it’s not their business.
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 ineffectiveness 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.
While funding and recruitment is a vital part of the security apparatus in the country that needs urgent attention, how long will people be ignored by the security leadership that has not only proven to be incompetent but whose tenures have long expired?
