Civil Rights’ group queries Senate over call for removal of Service Chiefs

The senate has come under intense backlash by a Civil Society Group,‎ Citizens’ Rights congress over calls for the unjustifiable sack of all the service chiefs due to what they describe as security lapses, describing it as ‘evil intentions by the senators’.

The group held a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, to express their disapproval of the decision by the legislatures‎.

Israel Abolaji,‎ President of Citizens Rights Congress’ (CRC)‎ expressed shock at the ‘weighty request’ of the senators, saying it is a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy.

“First, let us make it unambiguously clear to the undiscerning Senators that such calls or resolutions are very unnecessary, derogative, insensitive, a mockery of democratic liberties and plight of Nigerian people, as reflected in their various contributions to the motion raised by Sen. Suleiman Adokwe (Nasarawa).”

Abolaji further raised concerns over the position of the Senate after rejecting the $29 billion loan request facility President Muhammedu Buhari ‎requested for approval in 2016.

“We cannot but laugh at the pretentious and belated posturing of Senate’s concern for the security of Nigerians. It is the same Senate which refused for no apparent reason to grant a $29 billion loan request facility President Muhammedu Buhari forwarded to it for consideration in 2016.

Part of the loan fund was to be devoted to “protection of Nigerians” (security issues) for the internal security of Nigeria. But the Senators rejected it”.

“The CRC therefore, finds it resentful, despicable and bemusing, the meaningless trumpeting of a pretentious concern about the security of Nigerians by the Senators. We are astonished by the clever manner the Senators are seeking to shift blame and transfer the burden of their irresponsible leadership to a team of security working hard to quell the internal crises some of them have instigated in their domains”, he added.

‎Stating the position of the group, Abolaji expressed that the sack is unnecessary and passed a vote of confidence on the security chiefs to deliver when provided with the right support.

“We want to state without mincing words that the debate by Senators in plenary, which called for the removal of Service Chiefs, and their replacement, citing fresh killings in parts of the country, particularly attributed to the remarks of Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos APC) and his other colleagues is nauseating, to say the least.

It underscores’ the extent some national parliamentarians’ have downplayed the efforts of the Federal Government and the sacrifices Nigerian security apparatus have made in the face of biting armed internal insurrections”.

‎”It has passed a vote of confidence on all the Security Chiefs particularly the Army, Air Force and Navy Leadership for the sustained collaborative efforts that have been deployed to curtail the various hydra headed monsters created by our politicians in the name of unrest across the country”.

“In effect, the CRC is calling on the NASS under the leadership of President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki to change their negative perception of the administration of security in the country. Security is a collective responsibility and the parliament should henceforth concentrate more on discharging the patriotic and lawful parts of the bargain”, he chipped.