A former Nigerian presidential candidate Ahmed Buhari has said the continued stay of the country’s service chiefs poses a huge problem to Nigeria.
The country is witnessing massive protests by youths across her major cities who are demanding an end to police brutality, assault and killings of peaceful protesters, one never seen in the history of Nigeria.
Yesterday, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) said it will commence “non-stop” protests across the 19 states of the Northern region of the country. The group said the protest is aimed at drawing the attention of the country’s President Muhammadu Buhari and the northern states governors to the wave of insecurity in the North amongst other concerns.
But Ahmed Buhari, who appeared on ARISE News, said the continued stay of Nigeria’s service chiefs poses a threat to the country.
“This is the longest period in the history of Nigeria we see service chiefs hold such positions.
“It does not just dampen the moral of the younger officers who are due for promotion, but becomes a threat to the nation because even the security man at the gate is a threat to the home owner if he’s stayed longer than necessary because he’s got no fresh ideas and brings nothing new to the table and if we can’t fire those we hire, then there’s a huge problem,” said Buhari who’s also an African Union Ambassador.
On the continued protests across the country, Buhari accused government of not acting swiftly.
“This protest couldn’t have gotten to this magnitude if the government acted swiftly. The governor of Lagos state acted late despite him addressing the protesters, he wasn’t scared during campaigns of a mob attack so why should he be scared now to meet the people that voted for him?” Buhari said.
He said the federal government can, to an extent, assuage the protesters if the officers of the police involved in the attack and killing of peaceful protesters are tried openly.
“If it were in the 70s and 80s protests like this would have led to the death of over100 people. I think the way this government can assuage these protesters is bringing those people that attacked and killed protesters to book in an open trial,” Buhari said.
By Abel Ejikeme