Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has hailed the sacking of the outgoing service chiefs, describing as “disservice chiefs” who made Nigeria completely insecure.
Fayose said this in a series of posts on Twitter on Tuesday in reaction to the shake-up of the country’s security architecture.
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, were all removed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday after serving for over five years in their positions, according to a statement by Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesperson.
According to Fayose, the removal of the service was long overdue, noting that it was “the right step in the right direction” and “another victory for the people of Nigeria”.
The ex-governor, however, lambasted the sacked quartet, claiming that they only served themselves and their pockets rather than secure the country and protect the lives of Nigerians.
He called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to open an investigation into possible human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings that may have occurred during the time of the ex-service chiefs.
“The sacked Service Chiefs only served themselves and their pockets and can at best be described as “Disservice Chiefs” under whom Nigeria became completely insecured (sic).
“It is my call to the ICC and other relevant authorities that tenure of the “sacked” Service Chiefs should be investigated, most importantly human rights abuses and extra judicial killings under their watch and commands,” he tweeted.
Fayose called on the new service chiefs – Major-General Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-General I Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral AZ Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshall I.O. Amao (Chief of Air Staff) – to learn from their predecessors and ensure they are professional in the discharge of their duties.
The outgoing service chiefs were appointed in 2015 and there had been consistent pressure on the president by Nigerians to change them following the rising insecurity plaguing various parts of the country.
