- Cautions against opaqueness, instability in government
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Less than 24 hours after the Service Chiefs were sent packing from their seats, the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to tell Nigerians the real reasons behind the sweeping changes in the nation’s Military hierarchy.
According to the party, this suddenly announced Military shake-up has raised questions about transparency and stability in the government.
The ADC said in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, that though the President, as Commander-in-Chief, has the authority to make such changes, its timing, especially amid widespread rumours of an attempted coup, makes openness and clear communication essential for Nigerians.
Insisting the government must speak up on the sudden turn of events, the ADC said, “We acknowledge that the President reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit. However, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup.”
The Party, which further slammed the Federal Government over what it considered a confusing and evasive response to the rumours, maintained that Nigerians deserved clarity, not mixed signals.
The ADC Spokesman also said, “The reactions of government to the dangerous rumour have veered between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity.”
While noting that the sacked Service Chiefs were only appointed about 28 months ago, the ADC said the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has only been in his previous post as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) for a year.
The opposition party argued that such a major change in the military hierarchy could not have been made without serious underlying reasons.
“This kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the party said
Stressing that its concern was for the country’s peace and the health of its democracy, the ADC said Nigerians deserve a categorical explanation from the government.
“As an opposition political party, our interest remains the stability of our country and our democracy. In light of developments in our neighbourhood, particularly in Chad and across the Sahel, we are gravely concerned,” the Party said.
Also slamming the Tinubu-led administration of being distracted, the ADC lamented that insecurity is worsening even as government attention appears more focused on politics than on protecting lives and property across the nation.
The ADC said, “Insecurity continues to spread, with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others.
“But this is not the reason the government is changing the service chiefs. Instead, the administration’s attention appears fully focused on regime politics rather than securing the lives of Nigerians”.
The Party cautioned that President Tinubu’s sweeping changes in the military is capable of deepening public anxiety and feed further conspiracy theories rather than restore confidence, adding, “This action, if anything, will only further promote rumours and conspiracy theories.”
While maintaining that the Government must be transparent about its decision and reassure citizens that Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat, the ADC said, “We therefore reiterate our earlier position that the Federal Government must address the issue transparently and reassure Nigerians that our democracy is not under threat”.
