Home NEWS Buhari Educates Southeast Monarchs How Service Chiefs Are Appointed

Buhari Educates Southeast Monarchs How Service Chiefs Are Appointed

President Muhammadu Buhari has taken his time to educate the Southeast traditional rulers on the procedure for appointing service chiefs in the military system.

He said: “those of you who were in the military even in the Biafra Army, know that the entry point is the same and you go for basic training, until you go to your formations or institutions whether it is Army, Navy, AirForce or the police. The most competent or senior person is the one that gets there.”

President Buhari was responding to complain by Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, of marginalization of Southeast in the appointment of service chiefs by the government of Buhari. The President was in his palace today, Thursday, as he arrived to conduct his Presidential campaign in Anambra State.

The President went on: “if there are half a million soldiers, only one man can be the chief of Army staff at a time. This is so for the rest of the troop.

“In recruitment, we make sure that by states, people are recruited. At least, this is what I do; people are recruited from each state. For those who manage to get recruited, it’s up to them to get to the top if they are professional and work for it.

“The present chief of Army Staff, the Chief Air Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff even the previous Inspector General of Police that just left, I didn’t know them personally before I appointed them. I follow records.”

Buhari stressed that the current acting Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu was also appointed based on merit.

“The same thing with the IGP that was appointed last week; I don’t think I have ever seen him. I followed records. So, appointments in the Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies depend on individual performance after recruitment not where you think you come from. At least between me and God, this is what I do.”

On other appointment at the federal level, President Buhari said: “I think I tried to be fair. And you can ask these ministers. I never asked them how they are running their parastatals and or the boards. I appointed them and I trust them. I allow them work.”

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He said the same complaints from the Southeast about marginalization have been coming from other parts of Nigeria but that they don’t reflect the truth.

“I don’t have to tell you what noise the other states are making, especially when compared to the votes I got in 2015. So, I think I try to be fair.”

The President however commended the courage of the traditional rulers from the Southeast in speaking their minds, as he insisted that he has remained fair to all regions of the country since his assumption of duty as President on 29th May, 2015.

“I am pleased that you have the courage to present issues about your constituency but I expect you to be more patriotic in your presentation.

“In the south east, there are five states; in the north, I think there are eighteen states. In the Southeast, out of the five states, I think five members of the Federal Executive Council, are from this region, trade and investment, foreign affairs, labour, science and technology. And seven of the northern states have only minister of state.”

The President emphasized that his government has done a lot in the provision of infrastructure for the entire Southeast region, including Anambra state.

“On the issue of infrastructure, a lot of you that are here know that the last time the Enugu/Onitsha road was done was during the PTF days and it was also done again from Enugu to Port Harcourt.”

Buhari advised traditional rulers in the state to support the government in improving the security situation of the country at the grass root even as he promised his government’s commitment to the development of the region.

He pleaded for the Igbos to vote him in the February 16 election.

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, minister of Labour, Chris Ngige and the minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fosola were in the President’s entourage.

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