CLO’S POSITION ON REMOVAL OF SERVICE AND SECURITY CHIEFS IN NIGERIA.

CLO’S POSITION ON REMOVAL OF SERVICE AND SECURITY CHIEFS IN NIGERIA.

The news of the sack of service chiefs, police IG an SSS DG came to Nigerians with mixed feelings but for us in the Anambra Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization, it is a welcome development because we visualized it happening.

The sweeping changes are not only “Hurricane Jonathan” but also a “Tsunami” for ethnic bigots in Nigeria.

Before the emergence of Good luck Jonathan as the Acting president via the “Doctrine of Necessity” by the National Assembly and his subsequent swearing in as President following late president Yar Adua’s death, Nigeria as an entity was ran like an exclusive preserve of the North.
Yar A’dua and his “cabal” not only pursued a Northernisation policy but also elevated Dan Arewa Philosophy (Good only for the North) as the real mantra of his government using Rule of Law as a smoke screen.

We welcome the sweeping replacements announced by President Jonathan since it is in line with the federal character principle as enshrined in section 14,(3) (4) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Though it is regrettable that Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, the first inspector General of Police from the South East extraction could not complete his tenure, the appointment of Major General Azubike Ihejirika as the Chief of Army staff, the second to occupy the position since 1966 has broken the jinx of Igbo marginalization in the force.

South East Marginalization is real in Nigeria. Since the fratricidal civil war of 1967 to 1970 and the proclamation of no victor no vanquished during the General Gowon military regime, a strategy of disempowerment and strangulation in all areas of public endeavor was adopted against the Ibos. An unwritten rule that no Igbo man should be given employment in any sensitive command position till at least 50 years after the war was unofficially promulgated.

Therefore, Ihejirika’s appointment by President Jonathan is a bold step to assuage the feelings of the Igbos and give them a new sense of belonging in the Nation. We do hope that successive steps to address these cries of marginalization shall be taken henceforth in all spheres of our National Integration.

The task ahead.
As the new appointment occurred few days to the celebration of Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence, there is no room to waste time or dwell on frivolities. The new appointees together with Mr. President should jettison personal selfish ambitions and focus on altruistic motives to salvage the nation Nigeria.

Mr. President should never remote control any of the appointees for his 2011 intentions. His main motive should be to ensure that INEC is given every support to deliver on credible, free and fair election where the eventual winner will have the mandate of the people.

For the new Chief of Army staff, it is time to return the army to its professional Constitutional roles. They should remain apolitical while striving to stabilize democratic governance.

For the new police boss, it is another greater task ahead. Nigerians are in dire need of proactive police instead of reactionary policing and proclivity for private accumulation, which has become the hallmark of policing in Nigeria. He has an opportunity to learn from the mistakes and shortcomings of the past police bosses and improve from there.

Signed for the CLO
Comrade Aloysius Attah
Chairman, Anambra State Branch