Stop ‘distracting’ service chiefs, groups warn

Two civil society groups – the National Committee of Yoruba Youth (NCYY) and the Coalition of Civil Society against terrorism – say there is an attempt to distract the nation’s service chiefs.

In a statement on Monday, the groups said “some highly unpatriotic individuals” were trying to politicise the tenure of office of the nation’s service chiefs.

There have been reports that there is disquiet in the military over the tenures of the current service chiefs which would end in some months.

But in their statements, the groups said all over the world, the tenure of the leadership of the security agencies are prerogatives of the president, and “such principles, are guided by the extant codes of these agencies”.

“We are deeply worried and concerned as patriots, that some unpatriotic and mischievous individuals have now reduced the terms, conditions and tenure of the nation’s service chiefs to media speculations and object of beer parlour gossips,” the statement read.

“Since the inception of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, it is on record that our military under the leadership of the various service chiefs have worked tirelessly to guarantee the integrity of our sovereign territory, reclaim our once lost territories and have seriously decimated the once-dreaded Boko Haram sect.

“They, and have curtailed all form of internal and external aggression, against the Nigerian state and her people.

“What these highly distinguished Nigerians (service chiefs) deserve are accolades and not mudslinging or partisan speculations about their careers. The motives of these campaigners, we know, are meant, to distract them from the noble efforts of keeping Nigerian safe and sustaining the victory over the defeated armed groups in the country.

“Finally, we want to humbly advise and admonish Nigerians, particularly those speculating the expiration or otherwise of the tenure of service chiefs to in the interest of our collective aspirations as a people consider the need for our military to be insulated and protected, from the antics of politicians and politics.”