We welcome the new service chiefs, but…

After months and years of fending off well-reasoned calls for the replacement of service chiefs in the Nigerian security system, President Muhamadu Buhari, Tuesday caused a notice to be put out reporting that he had accepted the resignation of the service chiefs and named replacements for them.

Given the groundswell of public opinion in respect of easing out the service chiefs in question, this newspaper does not only welcome the decision to ease them off the system but also believes that the Buhari administration should use this opportunity to also review what has come to be seen by so many commentators as a ‘stubborn tendency to disregard popular opinion.’ This many believe, is what has happened in this instance. It is not good enough.

While no one is in any doubt that the government has a mandate to govern, it is however also a time-tested axiom that sound democratic practice is hinged on listening to the people at all times and always endeavouring to serve their best interests. The service chiefs were in the kitchen for too long.

Going forward, we also counsel that beyond name replacements, every effort must be made to comprehensively reset the security architecture of the country. As things stand, this is most critical and urgent. There is far too much insecurity in the land and this is simply not good.

Face of the old regime: Lt. General Tukur Buratai