Afeez Ayinde SaheedThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explain to Nigerians the real reasons behind the sudden dismissal of the country’s service chiefs, saying the abrupt changes raise questions about transparency and stability in government.
On Friday, the Presidency confirmed the removal of General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, and several other top military officers.
According to a statement released by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Musa was replaced by General Olufemi Oluyede, who previously served as Chief of Army Staff.
Major-General W. Shaibu was appointed as the new Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke became Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas was named Chief of Naval Staff. However, the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
The changes came shortly after reports surfaced that the Defence Headquarters had detained several military officers, including a Brigadier-General and a Colonel, over alleged involvement in a planned coup to overthrow the Tinubu administration.
Tell Nigerians reasons for sacking of service chiefs – ADC
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it found the timing of the reshuffle troubling, coming amid widespread rumours of an attempted coup.
“While we acknowledge that the President, as the Commander-in-Chief, reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup.
“We reiterate our earlier view that the reactions of government to the dangerous rumour have veered between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity.
“We note that nearly all the Service Chiefs that have been removed were appointed only 28 months ago, with the current Chief of Defence Staff himself appointed just a year ago as Chief of Army Staff.
“We also note that this kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons.
“Our position remains therefore that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened.
“As an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy. In the light of developments in our neighbourhood of Chad and the Sahel States, we are gravely concerned.
“Without prejudice to what might have happened in recent weeks, it is obvious that the Tinubu administration is distracted. Insecurity continues to spread with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in other parts. But this is not the reason the government is changing the Service Chiefs. Instead, the administration’s attention appears fully focused on regime politics rather than securing the lives of Nigerians.
“This action of near wholesale change in the leadership of the country’s military, if anything, will only further promote rumours and conspiracy theories.
“We therefore reiterate our earlier position that the Federal Government must address the issue transparently and reassure Nigerians that our democracy is not under threat.”
Meanwhile, President Tinubu, in a post shared on his social media page on Friday confirming the reshuffling of the service chiefs, said the move was aimed at “further strengthening Nigeria’s national security architecture.”
