Appointment, sack of service chiefs prerogative of president – Presidency
Alarmed by desertion in the army, incessant killing of soldiers and civilians by Boko Haram terrorists and bandits, the senate and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chief as a matter of urgency.
Recall that on Saturday July 19, an ambush by suspected bandits in Katsina State left at least 16 soldiers and officers dead and 28 others wounded. Among the dead were a major, captain and lieutenant.
On the same day, gunmen suspected to be herdsmen launched ferocious attack on a wedding party in Kukum Daji village, Kaura local government area of Kaduna State killing 21 persons while 28 others were injured.
Recently too, 356 soldiers formally exited the Nigerian Army citing “loss of interest” as their reason.
Reacting to these and many other criminal activities resulting in loss of lives in the country, the senate urged the president to sack all the service chiefs to enable it probe the remote and immediate causes of the heinous crimes against soldiers who are protecting the lives and property of the people.
It also said it had become imperative for the service chiefs to step down especially against the backdrop of recent action where over 200 Soldiers deserted.
The senate’s resolution was sequel to a motion by former senate leader and chairman, senate committee on army, Mr. Ali Ndume, who came under Order 42(1) of the Senate Standing Orders as Amended.
In his presentation, Ndume lamented the high level of casualties among the rank and file of the military and other security agencies where over 21 Soldiers were ambushed in Gamboa in Borno State and also in Katsina.
The four service chiefs include Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Marshal Ibok- Ete Ibas.
“The senate notes with concern the number of casualties among the Nigerian Army and other security agencies. Just recently, 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Maiduguri-Damboa road in Borno State, 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.
“In Katsina, soldiers were also ambushed and killed while several others were wounded and the number of casualties is not known.
“The senate appreciates the sacrifice of our armed forces in the fight against the insurgency and banditry and protection of territorial integrity and several other security assignments given to them.
“The senate is concerned that if the trend continues, it would have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry. It has been alleged that over 200 soldiers voluntarily resigned their engagement or appointment with the Nigerian Army,” said Ndume.
While the lawmaker appreciated the sacrifices that the soldiers make for the country, he emphasised the need for better service conditions for them.
He said should the trend of incessant attacks on the troops continue it will affect the nation’s fight against insecurity.
Some other lawmakers who contributed to the debate condemned the attacks which they described as disturbing.
In his contribution, two-time deputy senate president, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, described as “a dangerous sign” the frequent loss of lives and the apathy in the military.
He said the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property and urged the government to take charge and safeguard the lives of Nigerians.
In a supplementary prayer, Mr. Francis Fadahunsi moved for the sacking of the service chiefs, and in an overwhelming response the senators adopted the prayer.
“The additional prayer is that the present crop of service chiefs should step aside for the new ideas to come in so as not jeopardise security system,” said Fadahunsi
The Senate, thereafter, constituted a joint committee to receive briefing on the state of affairs of the security services to determine the next line of action.
In a similar development, the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives issued four-week ultimatum to the president to provide security for Nigerians and commence proper cleaning of what it called the embarrassing corruption cases in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or it will invoke relevant sections of the constitution and commence impeachment proceedings.
The caucus leader, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, said in a statement that there was total collapse of all governance and structural systems in the country due to bad or near absence of governance.
“There is a total collapse of all governance and structural systems in the country due to bad or near absence of governance. We groan under a government where armed robbers have now seized our highways; operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Forces have taken over the streets of our towns and cities, killing and maiming Nigerian youths.
“Worse still, security is at its lowest ebb. Terrorists, kidnappers and bandits have taken over vast ungoverned swathes of our country. Katsina, the home state of the commander-in- chief is on its knees. In fact, everywhere is unsafe in our country.
“The internal security of the country has been compromised as Boko Haram continues to inflict violence and death on Nigerians, while President Buhari continues to sound like the broken record,” he said.
He also said there was a deliberate and calculated attempt by the executive to ridicule and blackmail the national assembly in order to bring the parliament disrepute.
Chinda condemned the behaviour of the president’s appointees which he said is a smokescreen to divert attention from high level of corruption in the executive arm.
The caucus leader stressed that the three arms of government are empowered to work in sync within the bounds of the basic law and deliver on the responsibilities and mandates assigned to them by the Constitution.
He further said no one arm is superior to the other but lamented that the executive arm had behaved like the Leviathan, taking the legislature and judiciary prisoners.
Chinda who decried such development in a constitutional democracy noted that hijacking the other arms of government and making them rubber stamps is akin to a subversion of the Constitution.
He said members of the PDP caucus will not watch from the sidelines as if nothing was happening when the tenets of democracy were being subverted and the Constitution desecrated.
“The events of the past few weeks, chiefly orchestrated by unconscionable officials of the executive arm of government who continue to show disrespect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ethos, notions and governance practices that shape constitutional democracy, underscore the blackmail.
“It is too glaring that there is a deliberate and calculated blackmail by the executive to ridicule the national assembly and bring the parliament into public odium. The odious events of the past few weeks, chiefly orchestrated by unconscionable officials of the executive arm of government who continue to show disrespect for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the ethos, notions and governance practices that shape constitutional democracy, underscore the blackmail.”
“In light of the foregoing, we give the executive four weeks to provide security to Nigerians and commence proper cleaning of the embarrassing and notorious corruption cases (EFCC and NDDC) or we shall revert to the relevant sections of the constitution and commence impeachment proceedings in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.
He recalled how on July 16, 2020, a permanent secretary in the ministry of labour walked out on the House Committee on Diaspora unprovoked.
He also recalled that the minister of state for labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, walked out on the joint ad-hoc committee on employment, labour and productivity over a disagreement that arose between him and the committee.
Besides, he recalled how the acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, walked out on the committee of the House charged with the responsibility of investigating the financial scandal that had rocked the commission, adding that regardless of his reasons, a walkout on the parliament was inexcusable.
The PDP caucus leader noted that if the totalizing and unconscionable behaviour of members of the Executive arm enhance governance in the country, the position of the parliament would have been made tenuous by the fact of the good governance that their misbehaviour enthrones.
Sadly, he said “it’s not the case.”
Meanwhile, the presidency replied the senate saying the appointment or sack of service chiefs is the prerogative of the president
Spokesman for the president, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a statement the presidency had noted the resolution but stated that the president would only do what he considers to be in the interest of the country.
“The senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.
“The presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of service chiefs is a presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times.”
