Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has called for change in leadership of the top echelon of Nigeria’s security forces.
Jomog News Nigeria reports that the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, also urged the service chiefs in the country to recommend their successors to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The recent massacre of rice farmers at Zabarmari in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State had sparked fresh call for the sacking of the country’s service chiefs by the President.
The Ekiti State governor who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme with Seun Okinbaloye, argued that the morale of those who should have been in the leadership positions in our security architecture are at the lowest ebb because our service chiefs are still holding sway.
However, Fayemi said it is not about the sacking of the service chiefs but it is about “transitioning them out of their current responsibilities into retirement”.
He said, “The service chiefs have served the country well, they’ve given their best and they’ve been committed.
I know them personally and I know how well they are committed to ensuring that we get rid of this insurgency but the point I am making is that if you have done something, the same thing for five years, and you have even gone beyond your retirement age, of course, once you are a service chief, you may argue that there is no retirement age but the military has protocols, the military has processes and from time to time, one of the real consideration is renewal of the leadership.
“My approach is for Mr President to ask them in their role as service chiefs who understand the military very well, who know their men very well, to even be the ones to suggest some of the best men that may step into their shoes.
“It’s not about sacking them; it’s about transitioning them out of their current responsibilities into retirement.
A part of me even feels that there may be some of them that would rather exit now but they wouldn’t want to be seen as jumping ship if they have not been directed by Mr President but I am not the president of Nigeria and the president has within his rights to determine how he wants to direct this.
“Our own as governors and field commanders in the 36 states is to let him know the feelings of our people about security in the country and that we will do when we have the meeting.”
He also canvassed for total overhaul of the nation’s security architecture and the present mode of fighting insurgency and terrorism war which is currently proving to be an onerous task for the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in the country.
Fayemi said the 36 state governors would meet with President very soon and convey the feelings of the people on the insecurity in the country to him.
