News
‘Service chiefs must learn from predecessors’ mistake’
By Robert Egbe
The Coalition for A Better Nigeria yesterday welcomed the replacement of all the service chiefs, but with a caveat: they must learn from their predecessors’ mistake.
President Muhammadu Buhari on January 26, announced the appointment of Major-General Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Major-General I. Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff (COAS); Rear Admiral A. Z. Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff (CONS) and Air-Vice Marshal I. O. Amao, Chief of Air Staff (COAS).
The group, in a statement, by its President, Awa Bamiji, said: “The latest change of guards is a welcome development and it is on this note, we commend the Federal Government for taking this step after much outcry from the public including this noble organisation.
“It is better to be late than never. While we wish the outgoing Service Chiefs the best of luck in their future endeavours, we also congratulate the new ones and urge them to be highly committed and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.
“They must learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and always make themselves accessible to the critical stakeholders through who they could get the adequate intelligence reports to work on.”
It advised the country’s ethnic groups to “understand the nature of conflict and must give peace a chance. War is never an option.
“The various states’ governments must provide better alternatives to open grazing before the pronouncement of outright ban while the law must be applied to the criminals among the herders.
“We appreciate the uncommon patriotism and royal sincerity of the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, for publicly acknowledging the fact that seven to eight out of every 10 kidnappers arrested in Nigeria are Fulani.”
