By Tom Okpe, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress, APC welcomes the appointment of new service chiefs following the resignation and retirement of the outgoing service chiefs.
The party in a press statement signed by John J. Akpan Udoedeghe, National Secretary
Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC said the party is confident that the new service chiefs will consolidate on the remarkable achievements of their predecessors in keeping the country safe and peaceful.
The Party calls for public support for the new service chiefs as they perform their constitutional roles of protecting our country’s territorial integrity and tackle emerging security threats saying: “We urge increased synergy among the armed forces in achieving these tasks.”
President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of new Chief of Defence Staff, CDS as well as service chiefs sequel to the resignation of the CDS and the service chiefs and their retirement from service.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, the President said the new Service Chiefs, Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General 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, while the outgoing military chiefs are, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonosakin, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
The ruling party further explained that recent incidents in the country has triggered quite divisive rhetoric in some quarters buttressing that; “It is counterproductive and dangerous to national security when we put ethnic spins to issues affecting us. In tackling security threats, we should criminalise crime, not ethnicity.
“As a nation, our strength remains in our diversity and we should continue to forge unity in that diversity. We urge peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among Nigerians, irrespective of the part of the country we chose to live and work.”
The President congratulated the new Service Chiefs, urging them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.
President Buhari also accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs and their retirement from service, thanking the outgoing Chiefs for what he called their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.
