Commendations trail Tinubu’s choice of Service Chiefs, NSA

Commendations have followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of new Service Chiefs across the country with the immediate past Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, and former Imo State Governor’s Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu, hailing the appointments.

Namdas, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, said the new Service Chiefs were square pegs in square holes.

“In my view, the President made an excellent selection of officers that can help him fight insecurity in Nigeria. As the Chairman, House Committee, I got to know the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen C.G. Musa and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen T.A. Lagbaja. They have held command positions and they are very respected in the Nigerian Army. I have been told that the two other service chiefs are thorough professionals.

“When you add Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser, I believe they will help the President achieve the desired results. As far as I am concerned, these men are square pegs in square holes,” Namdas said.

On the appropriateness of Ribadu’s appointment as NSA, Namdas said the choice of a police officer as National Security Adviser is not new.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to effectively coordinate the country’s security agencies.

“From the Adamawa State where I come from, we produced the former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta who was NSA to Gen Ibrahim Babangida. It is good to give other security agencies the opportunity to showcase their capacity.

“As you know, Nuhu Ribadu, was the pioneer chairman of EFCC and from the scratch, he designed the agency to what it still looks like today. And with the close relationship he has with the C-in-C, he will enjoy huge political will to implement whatever ideas he has. With the combination of the new service chiefs and NSA, I can assure you that we will see positive results by ourselves,” Namdas stated.

Namdas listed what he considered as good results from the new national security team.

“Nigerians crave a peaceful environment to live and work. For example, a famer in the Northwest who cannot go to his farm or sleep well at home without unknown gunmen asking for tax to farm, simply wants the restoration of peace and stability. These new appointees will certainly benefit from the political will of a president who promised to hit the ground running and he has done exactly this.

“I see the new service chiefs and NSA being empowered in a manner that they will be able to get the desired results which is mainly people being protected from kidnappers, unknown gunmen and dealing with Boko Haram,” the ex-lawmaker added.

Also, Uche Nwosu, former Chief of Staff and President Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of the Service Chiefs.

He said Tinubu has the nation at heart and was committed to solving challenges confronting the nation.

In a statement, he said Tinubu has demonstrated nationalism through his dedication in signing bills into law, ranging from the student loan bill, electricity distribution bill and of recent, the appointment of Service Chiefs.

The statement read: “The recent reshuffling of Service Chiefs by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is commendable.

“Since assuming office, President Tinubu has demonstrated by the Bills he signed into law, and by the appointments and pronouncements he made that his administration is one where the leader understands the peculiar challenges facing the country.

“Mr President in his drive for holistic national repositioning delved into the education sector where the recent education loan scheme act would provide Nigerians with opportunities to pursue their academic goals, regardless of their social or economic background.

“Recall the electricity distribution bill that President Tinubu also signed into law, thereby bringing to an end, the belated controversy on electricity distribution that has slowed the wheel of the nation’s march towards industrialization.

“The latest hallmark of the administration is the appointment of Service Chiefs to ensure the security of lives and properties, and to defend and enforce Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“By selecting fine and well decorated officers from all regions of the country to man our security outfits, Mr President has demonstrated his deep understanding of the country, its people, as well as showing his unflinching commitment to one Nation bound in love and unity, where tribe, tongue and religion does not matter.

“I therefore urge the new Service Chiefs to deliver on their mandate, and restore our country to its former glory where lives are sacred, and investment, economic opportunities and political stability flourishes.”