The Federal Government and the Senate arm of the National Assembly, today, argued over the exit of military service chiefs in the country.
It began with the Senate, during plenary, asking military service chiefs to step down in order to allow the security architecture of the country to be restructured.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District moved and amendment to an existing motion by Senator Ali Ndume that all service chiefs should step down.
The motion was seconded by Senator Betty Apiafi and the House adopted it.
But a sharp response to the Senate in a press release by the Presidency said that only the Federal Government has the power to remove the military chiefs.
“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 Presidency stated.
The country has battled terrorists in the Northeast for over a decade. A war which has left in its wake over 37,000 people dead and 250,000 people displaced.
Recently, reports emerged that about 350 soldiers fighting terrorists asked to be discharged, they cited ‘loss of interest’ as reason.
Videos have also surfaced, showing soldiers complaining of inadequate weapons to fight soldiers.
The West African Pilot News had reported how Nigeria’s military war strategy ensures a stalemate not victory.
The sevice chiefs include the chief of air staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Army staff, Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai; and the Chief of Defence staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin.
Lt Gen Buratai had said when asked when banditry, terrorism and insurgency would end, after meeting with the President to give him updates on the national security situation in the country.
“If Nigerians want it to end today, I can assure you it will end today if everybody joins hands because these bandits are not outside Nigeria, they are not from foreign land,” Buratai said.
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