TheCable

The senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the ”overstayed” service chiefs.

The resolution of the upper legislative chamber followed a motion sponsored by Kashim Shettima, senator representing Borno central.

The request by the lawmakers is coming six months after they asked the service chiefs to resign.

Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff; Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval staff, are all overdue for retirement.

Shettima had drawn the attention of senators to the killing of 45 farmers at Kwashabe village, about 20 kilometers north of Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, on Saturday.

While moving the motion, the former governor of Borno lamented that there was no resistance by security agencies while the farmers were being attacked.

“They were working in their farmlands and there was no form of resistance or challenge from the security agencies stationed a few kilometres away,” he said.

“The Nigerian military in conjunction with other security agencies up till today have not been able to quell the insurgency affecting the region in spite of the slogan by government officials that the insurgents have been technically defeated.

“The primary objective of government is the protection of its citizens. Protecting the lives and property of citizens is the primary obligation of government.”

In his remarks, Senate President Ahmad Lawan asked the senators not to despair over the country’s security situation.

“I want to urge us not to despair. I believe that these resolutions should be implemented by the executive, they are not frivolous,” Lawan said.

“Security should take the centre stage more than anything else.”

The senate also asked the president to restructure the country’s security architecture and to ensure the latest funds budgeted for security are judiciously used.

The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Lawan.