‘We need fresh ideas’ — Wike asks service chiefs to step down

January 15, 2021 6:33 pm

PRESIDENT BUHARI MEETS SERVICE CHIEFS 7A-A. L-R; Chief of Defence of Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff LT Tukur .Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar after Security meeting with the President at the State House Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. FEB 24 2020

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has asked the service chiefs to resign and allow fresh ideas and strategy in tackling threats to internal security.

Speaking in Port Harcourt during the wreath-laying and parade ceremony to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Wike advised the federal government to change its approach in the fight against insecurity.

He said the inability of security forces to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents “despite years of full military engagement” shows that something is wrong with the nation’s approach in combating insecurity.

He called on the federal government to do everything necessary to bring an end to the menace in the shortest time possible.

“A country is as strong as its Armed Forces. Her inability to defeat the Boko Haram insurgency despite years of full military engagement shows that all is not well with our approaches and commitments to the battle against internal insecurity,” he said.

“Today, therefore, also raises the need for all of us to be worried by the deteriorating security situation across the country and restate the call on the Federal Government to do everything necessary to bring the security threat by Boko Haram and armed bandits to a decisive end in the shortest time possible.

“We thank the Service Chiefs for their efforts so far in the battle against the insurgents. But we also align with the concern of citizens that having seemingly reached their wits’ end, they should now give way for fresh hands and ideas to give the fight the impetus that it so strongly needs to ensure that Boko Haram and killer bandits are comprehensively defeated and smoked out of existence.

“The time has come for the Federal Government to stop the pretence, change strategy, seek help from our friends and confront the urgency of the internal insecurity situation in Nigeria with every weaponry at its disposal to stop the killing, free all hostages and improve the physical security of our country for all Nigerians,” Wike said.

Wike also saluted the armed forces for defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

He said every Nigerian owes it a duty to the soldiers and their families to remember, honour, and celebrate them for “their extraordinary courage in service and sacrifice to the country”.