* President Muhammadu Buhari
The Presidency today stated that only President Muhammadu Buhari has the prerogative to appoint or sack Service Chiefs.
This just as the Presidency also stated that President 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.
The Presidency’s reaction came on the heels of the resolution adopted today by the Senate during plenary. The Senate called on the Service Chiefs to either resign or be sacked due to the lingering insecurity challenges in the country.
The Presidency’s reaction was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
“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.”
The Senate made the resolution following the alleged killing of 16 soldiers on Saturday morning by armed bandits, who also injured 30 in an ambush at Shimfida in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina.
The Senate asked the service chiefs to step aside as a result of the rising insecurity in the country, following a motion by Senator Ali Ndume ,APC, Borno state
The resolution asking the service chiefs to resign was moved by Senator Francis Fadahunsi (Osun) and seconded by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers).
According to Fadahunsi, “The additional prayer is that the present corps of service chiefs should step aside for the new ideas to come in so as to improve our security situation.”
The motion was approved after a voice vote. In his lead debate, Senator Ndume expressed worry over the rising voluntary retirement of army officers.
The Senate asked its joint committees on Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Defence and Interior to investigate why officers were deserting the Army.
Recalled that some days ago in Kaduna, kidnappers had allegedly abducted over six persons including a policewoman.
Besides, Kukum Daji village of Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State was allegedly attacked on Sunday night by gunmen with 21 persons killed, while 28 others sustained various degrees of injury.
