Youth group faults calls for sack of CDS, Service Chiefs

By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

The leadership of the Nigerian Patriotic Youth for Good Governance has said they have observed with dismay and consternation the recent calls for the sacking of the  Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and other Service Chiefs in Nigeria.

A statement issued by the group after a world press conference said, ordinarily the briefing and subsequent statement would not “have been necessary if not for the incontrovertible facts that those making the calls for their sacks are not making it in National interest. Rather, they are doing so to serve the interest of their pay masters.”

The statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Barr. Abdulmalik Attahiru, averred that there is no iota of doubt that in recent times, there have been pockets of cases of kidnapping within the territory of Abuja, adding that concerted effort is being made to frontally confront the trend.

“We cannot be oblivious of the copious facts that arrests have been made, investigation is in top gear and those fomenting insecurity within the territory of Abuja and Nigeria at large will soon be brought to book ultimately. There is no hidden place for criminals in Nigeria. They will be brought to book regardless of who they are and where they are.

“We must not forget that the fundamental mandate of the Nigerian Armed Forces is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria from external invasion/aggression. The Nigerian Military has done a lot in this regard. They have made a lot of sacrifice to keep Nigeria relatively safe and orderly. They are not resting on their oars. They are working round the clock in collaboration with sister security agencies to restore security, peace and stability to Nigeria,” the group said.

The group stated categorically that the Armed Forces under Gen. C.G. Musa is doing tremendously well in the area of restoring stability to Nigeria.

“He is a talk and do Military General. He has carved a niche for himself within the military architecture in Nigeria. Commitment to duty and dedication to service has been his watch word. He has always distinguished himself in all the places he served,” the group stressed.

Going down memory lane, the group said, “General C.G. Musa Military carrier and antecedents are spotless and unblemished. As Commandant Depot, Nigerian Army, 2015-2017, his legacies have continued to linger. When he was Theatre Commander JTF North East Operation Hadin Kai, he performed exceptionally well by championing the unimaginable decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.”

The group further posited that those who are calling for “his head and the heads of the Service Chiefs do not mean well for Nigeria,” adding that their call “is unpatriotic and self centered,” stressing that what the CDS and Service Chiefs require from Nigerians is encouragement and not discouragement.

“We are using this medium to appeal to Nigerians to assist security agencies with intels that will enable them to nip in the bud any security threat posed by criminals in the society. We have a civic duty and responsibility to compliment their efforts to ensure our society is safe and peaceful.

“Gen. C.G. Musa is more than ever determined and resolute in his commitment to confront and destroy criminal enterprises in Nigeria. He needs the support of all Nigerians to tackle insecurity.

“He is providing the exemplary leadership required to emancipate Nigerians from the grips of criminals and all manner of unhealthy agitations that are capable of causing unrest and tension in Nigeria,” it said.

The group assured the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs of their continued support in identifying with the military in their avow commitment to restore security and engender orderliness in Nigeria.

“Security is everyone’s business, therefore, all hands must be on deck to guarantee the security of lives and property in Nigeria,” it concluded.