Cries Of Insensitivity Trail Appointment Of New Army Chief

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), yesterday, blasted the Presidency, accusing it of worsening disunity, tension and fuelling ethnic distrust among Nigerians. The apex Yoruba association maintained that though the presidency always urged Nigerians to unite, its actions and utterances are in sharp contrast to what it is preaching.

While reading a communiqué after its meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, National President of the association, Justice Demola Bakre (rtd) and the Secretary General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, took exception to the recent appointments made by President Buhari.

They said: “President Buhari’s administration is grossly insensitive and talks down on state government who have the mandate of their people to govern them.”

Mazi Chuks Ibegbu the Board Chairman of World Igbo People’s Assembly (WIPAS) : said President Buhari was enthroning a dangerous legacy that negates the growth, development and unity of the country. The group stated that it was now clear that the President had something against Ndigbo.

Several Igbo had in the past six years of the Buhari administration canvassed inclusion of her people in the security architecture of the country. They had called on Buhari to respect the Federal character principles in his appointments in the interest of justice and unity of the country. However, the president on several occasions had not yielded to the request. Yesterday, he appointed another northerner to replace the immediate past Chief of Army staff.

Ibegbu, who expressed sadness with the development, insisted that the president’s negative attitude towards Ndigbo was fuelling agitations and unrest in the country, stressing that he was promoting a dangerous culture of hatred and ethnicism.

Ibegbu said: “The Constitution is very clear. He is enthroning a dangerous legacy. He has refused to run an inclusive nation in the past six years. He has the right to appoint whomever that pleases him but with the mood of the nation, I had thought he would have tried to correct some of his nepotistic posture but he has continued in a culture that tends to sideline a section of the country.”

Mr Goodluck Ibem, also reacting, President of Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL), raised the alarm over the continued refusal of President Buhari to appoint a Southeasterner into the security architecture.

“The President has just told Ndigbo in plain language that they are not part of the country. The grand conspiracy to deny the Southeast its fair right is wicked and very unfortunate. His appointments smack of sinister motives. Ndigbo has really been treated unfairly in all sense of the word. To deny one of the tripod upon which the country was founded is unthinkable.”

Security expert, Christopher Oji, said this administration is solely promoting northern agenda. “Anybody who was thinking that President Buhari would act differently is not a student of history. This administration is solely a northern agenda and the benefits are for the north. Check out all the important positions, from Customs, Police, Immigration, Military, federal ministry and parastatals, including Civil Defence, EFCC, ICPC, NIMASA, and NNPC.

“All the positions are for the North, so why should you expect the office of COAS to be different? This single act is setting us back, denying competent people of the opportunity to serve.”

Ken Iwelumo, U.S. Wall Street veteran and public commentator, , said: “There is nothing new or surprising in President Buhari’s choice to replace the late Attahiru with another Northern General. The administration is in a siege mentality mode with a declining economy and serious national security challenge. A leopard never changes its spots. With all these factors coupled with incessant rumours of a coup, President Buhari has no other choice but to give himself an illusion that the army would be kept in check by a General from his own ethnic group. Tuesday night’s coup in Mali has only made matters worse. When you do not have anything to offer your country, you resort to self preservation.”

Dennis Amachree, Former Department of State Services (DSS) chief,said: “Appointment of service chiefs remains the prerogative of the president. However, this is another lost opportunity for the President to listen to the yearnings of a section of the country, who felt disenfranchised.”

Ibegbu said: “The Constitution is very clear. He is enthroning a dangerous legacy. He has refused to run an inclusive nation in the past six years. He has the right to appoint whomever that pleases him but with the mood of the nation, I had thought he would have tried to correct some of his nepotistic posture but he has continued in a culture that tends to sideline a section of the country.”

Mr Goodluck Ibem also reacting, President of Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL, raised the alarm over the continued refusal of President Buhari to appoint a Southeasterner into the security architecture.

“The President has just told Ndigbo in plain language that they are not part of the country. The grand conspiracy to deny the Southeast its fair right is wicked and very unfortunate. His appointments smack of sinister motives. Ndigbo has really been treated unfairly in all sense of the word. To deny one of the tripod upon which the country was founded is unthinkable.”

 Christopher Oji Security expert, said this administration is solely promoting northern agenda. “Anybody who was thinking that President Buhari would act differently is not a student of history. This administration is solely a northern agenda and the benefits are for the north. Check out all the important positions, from Customs, Police, Immigration, Military, federal ministry and parastatals, including Civil Defence, EFCC, ICPC, NIMASA, and NNPC.

“All the positions are for the North, so why should you expect the office of COAS to be different? This single act is setting us back, denying competent people of the opportunity to serve.”

Ken Iwelumo, U.S. Wall Street veteran and public commentator said: “There is nothing new or surprising in President Buhari’s choice to replace the late Attahiru with another Northern General. The administration is in a siege mentality mode with a declining economy and serious national security challenge. A leopard never changes its spots. With all these factors coupled with incessant rumours of a coup, President Buhari has no other choice but to give himself an illusion that the army would be kept in check by a General from his own ethnic group. Tuesday night’s coup in Mali has only made matters worse. When you do not have anything to offer your country, you resort to self preservation.”

Dennis Amachree Former Department of State Services (DSS) chief said: “Appointment of service chiefs remains the prerogative of the president. However, this is another lost opportunity for the President to listen to the yearnings of a section of the country, who felt disenfranchised.”

(The African Examiner)