Diverse reactions have continued to trail the call for President Muhammadu Buhari‘s resignation by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe amid the resolution of the National Assembly suggesting a total overhauling of Nigerian security architecture.
Members of the Senate and their counterparts at the Green Chamber had in a unanimous decision called on President Buhari to relieve all the service chiefs of their positions and inject fresh hands to take up the statutory obligation of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria nation-state and curb internal uprising.
The lawmakers hinged their position on seeming unabated security breaches, especially the threatening degree of insurgency and banditry in the Northeast and Northwest of Nigeria, coupled with rising cases of kidnappings and armed robberies in the South.
Meanwhile, a cross section of stakeholders in Osun State, who spoke to DAILY POST on the issues expressed mixed feelings ; while some described the calls as timely and product of political expediency, others believe it is statements made out of ignorance and political malice.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Taiwo Ijiyode in his reactions commended Abaribe for what he termed ‘courageous position’ on issues of national importance.
He explained that the dimension and degree of insecurity in Nigeria demand urgent attention to prevent the situation from degenerating further, as he carpeted those who are criticizing the senator for being feeble minded.
Ijiyode alleged that majority of those who are making comments on different social media platforms are tools in the hands of ruling All Progressing Congress, APC, adding that their comments remain personal opinions of ‘’no impact whatsoever ‘’.
‘’ Abaribe is a distinguished Nigeria , he is one lawmaker that knows his onions with great love for his father land, I commend him for speaking up despite the conspiracy of silence that has permeated the fabric of our body politics.
‘’I believe president Buhari will see the call for his resignation as a clarion call for him and his team to sit right and do the needful before it is too late’, Ijiyode said.
He also hailed members of the National Assembly for taking such position on National security, saying service chiefs have overstayed in their present positions.
A constitutional lawyer and social commentator in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Mr Abiodun Sangodele averred that both statements from Abaribe and those lawmakers should not be treated on the same prism.
Sangodele opined that the statement credited to Abaribe signified a personal assessment of the political trend in Nigeria and considered solution based on certain interest and background.
‘’Meanwhile, the position of the lawmakers on the efficiency and effectiveness of our service chiefs in the fight against insurgency and other criminal activities should be a thing of concern to every discerning Nigerian .
‘’In fact, for me, this is the first time I will see a sincere legislators making genuine statement on important National challenge without bias. Those great men really deserve accolades from Nigerians.
‘’The position of the National Assembly on the state of insecurity and that sincere suggestion should be taken seriously by the presidency and quickly act on it.
‘’In a clear terms, therefore, we cannot continue to do the same thing the same way and expect a different result. The fight against criminalities in our land should be creative and dynamic in all ramifications, I think it is pertinent for the president to heed the call of wisdom by the lawmakers and do the needful’, he said.
Also, a Research fellow in the Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Mr Oludare Adisa maintained that both Abaribe and the lawmakers were speaking the minds of majority of Nigerians, with the present reality in the country.
He said the security architecture of Nigeria has become so porous and dangerous to be left in the hands of government alone. He added that the senator has a responsibility to speak in that manner to spur the government to action.
The political scientist noted that the president and members of his cabinet must redefine scope of governance and change strategies to get optimal results, especially in the area of security and economy.
According to him,’’ president Buhari has two options, is either he changes tactics and come up with different strategies to fight insecurity in Nigeria, or quit honourably; you cannot said to be winning a war when your enemy continued to neutralize your armies and killing your people without check’’.
A chieftain of APC in Ife East Local Government, Olaide Adelowo, however, described Abaribe as a mischief maker and political obscurantist, alleging that he had been in the corridor of power without nothing to show for it in terms of personal contributions to National issue.
He said such call is a mere ‘’verbal exercise’’ that need not to be taken seriously. Adelowo added that the Buhari-led administration is working assiduously to stem the tide of insecurity around the country .
‘’In as much as I respect the position of the lawmakers on the need to inject fresh ideas and innovations into the security mechanism of Nigeria to guarantee efficiency and better result, I totally disagree with the call by Abaribe telling Mr President to resign. On what grounds would such an efficient and listening president resign?.
‘’This is a man who has been in the corridor of power for decades , first as Deputy Governor in Abia and as a member of the Senate, even rising to become the Minority leader without any significant contribution to national challenge except political statement of no substance ‘’, Adelowo resorted .
