The Coalition of Northern Groups says it is dragging the
President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to court over the continued
retention of the nation’s service chiefs.
On assumption of office in 2015, the President appointed
General Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Tukur
Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff
and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff.
There have been calls for their removal for non-performance,
but spokesman for the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, had consistently argued that
only Buhari could hire and fire the service chiefs.
However, the CNG disagreed, saying that the service chiefs
have overstayed.
The coalition added that under them, the security situation
in the North had worsened, hence the need for the court to compel Buhari to
remove them (service chiefs).
The CNG argued that there were laws guiding the appointments
of the service chiefs, which must be followed to evolve the system.
This, the northern organisation said, would be explored when
they get to the court.
CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated these in an
exclusive chat with The PUNCH in Kaduna.
Suleiman said, “The CNG is going to court because we believe
it is now no longer a question of performance, but one of legality on whether
the service chiefs, who have overstayed their years of service should not be
compelled to comply with the laws guiding the prevailing scheme of service in
the country.
“We would seek interpretation from the courts on the
applicability of the law that says if a public servant attains 60 years of age,
he must retire, or if he covers 35-years in service, he should go.
“On moral grounds, CNG regrets that by any standard of
judgement, President Muhammadu Buhari and his security chiefs as constituted
today have failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security.
“We at the CNG have been consistent with our warnings that
President Buhari lacked the will, his overstayed service chiefs lack the
capacity, competence and commitment to lead Nigeria into a secure and
prosperous future.
“It is shocking that in spite of unprecedented consensus
among Nigerians that the administration requires a new resolve, approach and
leadership in the fight against the nation’s multiple security challenges,
President Buhari appears either totally isolated or in deep denial over the
result of his service chiefs’ failures to secure Nigerians.”
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