Femi Adesina to senate: Only Buhari can take decision on service chiefs

July 21, 2020 3:24 pm

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES SECURITY BRIEFING 7. L-R; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, during the Security briefing at the State House held at the Council Chambers Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE, JUNE 18 2020

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, says it is only President Muhammadu who can take a decision on service chiefs.

Responding to the call of the senate for the service chiefs to resign or be sacked, Adesina said Buhari will do what is best for the country “at all times”.

“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,” Adesina said in a statement.

“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.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south and chairman of the committee on army, had moved a motion for the removal of service chiefs.

Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff; Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval staff, are all overdue for retirement.

Despite calls for their sack, Buhari has kept them in office.

While moving the motion, Ndume expressed worry that over 200 soldiers have resigned from the army and that this could affect the fight against insurgency.

“The senate notes with concern the number of casualties among the Nigerian army and other security agencies,” he had said.

“That 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, 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 upper legislative chamber also asked the federal government to equip the troops with modern weapons.

The motion was adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.