By Uchenna Okolie (Borno State Correspondent)
In reaction to the appointment of new Service Chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari, eminent citizens of Borno state and elder statesmen have urged the appointed Generals to be proactive in dealing with the security situation bedeviling the state and country for peace to reign, especially in the North-East zone.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, announced, that he had accepted the resignation of his (now retired) service chiefs, and had appointed Major General Lucky Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao as the Chief of Air Staff.
Reacting over the appointments to our correspondent on Thursday in Maiduguri, Alhaji Hassan Zanna, who is the Zanna Boguma of Borno, noted that there has been a wide call for the sack of the service Chiefs for long, and hoped that the security situation would greatly improve following the change of security architecture by the president.
"Well, my advice to the incoming Service Chiefs is for them to be proactive and do the needful because this has been the call of every Nigerians who wished the country well. And we have been calling for the sack of the service Chiefs for a long and we hope the security situation is going to be better for posterity.
"Luckily, Irabor has been a wonderful Officer, we have seen his records and what he has done to the Boko Haram terrorists during his time as Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole. Despite the fact that he is not from the North but being a fine and disciplined gentleman, he did well because of patriotism. So we expect much from him as Chief of Defence staff.
"And for Major General Attahiru, we hope he is equally going to be proactive and forthcoming in taking the insecurity in the country to its logical conclusion. And to all other security chiefs that were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, we wish them good and we hope they will do what is expected of them in terms of the security situation in the country," Zanna Boguma said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Ashemi, said the sacking of the service Chiefs and the appointed fresh hands is a welcome development in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists and other security challenges confronting the country.
The elder statesman who is also the sole Administrator Borno State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, And Agriculture ( BOCCIMA ), added that the overstay of the former service Chiefs brought about disillusionment and disenchantment in the Officer ranks of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He said had the former service Chiefs left when they were supposed to leave, may about two sets of Service Chiefs have been appointed.
"It is apparent that they have run out of ideas. Initially, when they were appointed, they came with a lot of zeal and passion, but over time, they lost ideas. The new Service Chiefs particularly, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen Irabor has worked here and performed brilliantly as Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole. So we have a lot of anticipation that he is going to make a positive change in the war against terrorism and other criminalities.
"There is a lot of hope that things will change for the better. We also thank the retiring Service Chiefs and wish them well in future endeavors," the BOCCIMA Boss said. NNL.
