The presidency has defended the performance of the four service chiefs who retired from service on Tuesday, saying they did not fail Nigerians.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, stated this when he featured in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today on Tuesday.
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He said the quartet of former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, ex-Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, and the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas only left their positions because it was time to inject fresh energy in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other security challenges confronting the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier on Tuesday appointed new service chiefs to lead the country’s onslaught against the criminals terrorizing innocent citizens across the country.
The new service chiefs are – Major-Gen. Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-Gen. I. Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral A.Z. Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air-Vice Marshal I.O. Amao (Chief of Air Staff).
Adesina said: “The fact that they have to leave today does not mean they have failed. No, I wouldn’t think so. It is just that it is time to have fresh energy, fresh blood and fresh ideas in the theatre of battles where the military is involved in the country.
Read also: Ex-service chiefs didn’t fail Nigerians – Presidency
“The president in the statement also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their contribution to engendering a safer country –that shows that by and large he was satisfied with their performances and he just felt it is time to rejig the system, have fresh energy, fresh blood and fresh ideas. But it should be on a record that he commended them and their services to the country.
“These ones that are leaving today have been there for about five years and five months. It is a matter of doing what is right at a given time.”
