Service Chiefs: APC, PDP, Accord, Senators react

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the public to support the newly appointed Service Chiefs to perform their constitutional roles of protecting the country’s territorial integrity and tackle emerging security threats.
Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of the APC
Caretaker Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee, made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja while welcoming the appointment of the new service chiefs.
Akpanudoedehe expressed confidence that the new service chiefs would consolidate on the remarkable achievements of their predecessors in keeping the country safe and peaceful.
He also urged increased synergy among the armed forces in achieving these tasks.
He noted that recent incidents in the country had triggered divisive rhetorics in some quarters, adding that it was counterproductive and dangerous to national security when we put ethnic spins to issues affecting us.
Akpanudoedehe stressed that “in tackling security threats, we should criminalise crime, not ethnicity”.
He further added that as a nation, our strength remained in our diversity, saying that the nation should continue to forge unity in its diversity.
He called for peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among Nigerians irrespective of the part of the country they chose to live and work.
The newly appointed service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General 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.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised the new service chiefs to brace up to the challenges of the nation.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja urged the service chiefs to note that their appointment at this time demanded a huge sense of commitment.
Ologbondiyan added that the appointment also demanded responsibility and determination to secure the nation and restore peace, order and national cohesiveness in Nigeria polity.
Ologbondiyan urged the new service chiefs to take urgent steps to restore professionalism and boost the morale of nation’s troops.
He also urged them to ensure the services did not fall into the indolence, corruption, recklessness, abuse of process and partisanship.
“The new commanders must note that Nigerians are looking up to them as professionals to remove terrorists, bandits and other outlaws ravaging our nation from our landscape,” he said.
Ologbondiyan, however, said that the PDP demanded an immediate inquest into the tenure of the last service chiefs to unravel the circumstances behind the security lapses.
“Our party insists that such must be the sure step toward sanitising the security architecture as well as lifting the morale of those in the front lines risking their lives for the security of our nation,” he said.
In his reaction, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chief Ralph Nwosu, expressed hope that the new appointments would boost the morale of security personnel.
Nwosu said that the President exercised his right to appoint or remove service chiefs.
“All the same, I believe that this will help the morale of our military personnel. Nigeria has superbly trained and schooled officers but politicians are causing disaffection in the system.
“This explains the woes in the country. I pray that the new team will be broadminded and mindful in the decisions that they make,”he said.
Nwosu urged Nigerians to work together to rescue the country.
The Accord Party said Nigerians “are looking forward to the end of banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the country with the appointment of new Service Chiefs”.
Mr Dele Oladejo, the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the party, said this in Lagos on Tuesday.
“It is, however, a respite that effort is finally being made to address the failure of the sacked service chiefs.
“In coming days, Nigerians and the world at large will watch the newly appointed security chiefs closely to see result-oriented security policies and actions toward definite solutions to all security challenges in the country.
“We look forward to the end of banditry, kidnapping and communal killings across the country.
“We hope the new military leaders will promote a force that is more resilient, acceptable in form, operation, structure and deployment,” he said.
Senators urged the new Service Chiefs to commence work immediately by addressing security challenges facing the country.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), said the appointment had been long awaited.
“The appointment of new service chiefs is better late than never.
“We have been calling for this for a long time now.
“Let us hope that this team would stem the tide of insecurity,” he said.
Sen. Ahmed Babba Kaita (APC-Katsina), corroborated Abaribe’s claim saying that the appointment was in response to the yearnings of Nigerians.
“It is in response to the yearnings of Nigerians and I believe we are all good for it.
“It is a very good development and I want to believe that we are going to see a consolidation of the progress made so far because as you are all aware, in the last two months, the military have been recording successes both in the fight against Boko Haram and kidnappings.
“We are very grateful for this development and we expect nothing less from the incoming personnel. We expect them to be ready to take over and consolidate on the security gains so far made,” he said.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra ) commended Buhari for the appointment of the service chiefs.
“I want to thank Mr President for yielding to the cries of Nigerians. I believe every journey has an end.
“The relieved service chiefs have done very well within their own capacity and Nigerians have for long yearned for a change which is one of the mantra of the current regime.
“It is only change that is permanent and haven done this, I want to thank the President and as well plead on the incoming service chiefs to commit their new posting toward the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“We need to have a better security infrastructure in our country,” Ubah said.