Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, has urged the new service chiefs to not politicise security and remain professional at all times in the discharge of their duties.
Governor Wike’s position was contained in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, on Tuesday in reaction to the shake-up of the country’s defence architecture.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday appointed Major-General Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshall I.O. Amao (Chief of Air Staff) as the new service chiefs.
According to Governor Wike, Nigerians are looking up to the new service chiefs to make the desired change having lost faith in their predecessors.
The statement read: “The new Service Chiefs should not politicise security by aligning with politicians.
“What the country needs now is competence and professionalism that will reduce insecurity to the barest minimum.”
The governor urged governments at all levels to render the necessary support to enable the service chiefs to deliver on their assignment.
“This is an opportunity to serve the nation and I believe that the service chiefs will be focused and dedicated,” he added.
There had been consistent pressure on President Buhari by Nigerians to change the immediate past service chiefs – General Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Air Staff – who had been in their positions since 2015 following the rising insecurity plaguing various parts of the country.
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