PDP demands immediate inquest into tenure of ex-service chiefs, knocks Buhari for ‘acting late’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday demanded an immediate inquest into the tenure of the former service chiefs to unravel the circumstances behind the security lapses during their five-and- half-year in office.

The PDP in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, also knocked President Muhammadu Buhari over the late appointment of new service chiefs for the country.

The party insisted that he (Buhari) acted “after much damage has been done” to Nigeria by the criminals terrorizing innocent citizens across the country.

The service chiefs who left their positions on Tuesday are Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff); Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).

While the quartet of Major-Gen. Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-Gen. I. Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air-Vice Marshal I.O. Amao (Chief of Air Staff) has been appointed by the president to replace them and lead the country’s onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements in the country.

The statement read: “The PDP demands an immediate inquest into the tenure of the last service chiefs to unravel the circumstances behind the security lapses and compromises as well as the accusation of involvement in the alleged looting of funds meant for the equipping and welfare of our troops in the front.

“Our party insists that such must be the sure step towards sanitizing the security architecture as well as lifting the morale of those in the front lines risking their lives for the security of our nation.

READ ALSO: Ex-service chiefs didn’t fail Nigerians – Presidency

“The party says the belated replacement of the outgoing wearied service chiefs, after much damage to our nation, shows President Buhari as a leader who has always refused to heed to wise counsel by well-meaning Nigerians but continually leads our country to a dire strait.

“If Mr. President had acted when our party and other well-meaning Nigerians including the two chambers of the National Assembly impressed upon him to do so, the security situation in the country would not have degenerated to this abysmal level.

“We hope President Buhari uses this as a turning point to learn to listen to wise counsel and not always set our nation on the path of destruction before acting.

“Nevertheless, our party expresses hope that the new service chiefs will brace up to the challenges of our nation and note that their appointment at this time, more than at any other point in our national history, demands a huge sense of commitment, responsibility and determination to secure our nation and restore peace, order and national cohesiveness in our polity.

“Our party urges the new service chiefs to take urgent steps to restore professionalism, boost the morale of our troops and ensure not to fall into the indolence, corruption, recklessness, abuse of process, and partisanship that characterized the tenure of the last service chiefs.”

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