How Buhari Got It Right With Sacking Of Service Chief's.

Excitement is an understatement of what Nigerians felt on 12 July 2015, when the Presidency announced the compulsory sacking and retirement of all service chief's in the country. This was long overdue and it seemed like
the President even with his military background was lost in thought. It is becoming clearer each day that the President may be slow but is "Meticulous and Articulate". The retirement of the service chief's is an informal inauguration ritual which every incoming government performs irrespective of political party. Previous governments of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan all did the same yet the present President won't go that line.

In earlier governments, Nigerians did not show concern whether or not these service chief's were sacked or not in as much they were protected. This isn't the case now as insurgency is on the increase and every one is now aware of the responsibilities of the service chief's. The sacked service chief's were never a match for the insurgency and did little or nothing to help halt it.

While the departing service chief's should be applauded on their quick intense six weeks fight on insurgency after the postponement of the presidential elections in February 2015. One only has the temptation of asking if the insurgency fight was more a political fight than a military one? This is because, since their appointments on January 17, 2014 little have been done to quell the constant bomb blasts in the North East. Then how come they service chief's fought like never before in six weeks while they did little in 52 weeks? That should now be a question for posterity.

It is not only good but clever that the president did not follow the bandwagon of those who called for the sack of these service chief's immediately he assumed office on May 29, 2015. Instead the president retained them and even held several high profile round table meetings with them to show need for cooperation rather than vindication.  The outcome was more intense insurgency attacks and bombing resulting to more than 500 deaths in six weeks. The centre could no longer hold and they were sacked.

It is clear that the President gave them their chance but the blew it by proving Nigerians right for calling for their sack. One only prays that the appointment of new ones spell success and victory for the fight on insurgency.