Political parties demand sack of service chiefs over killings

Opposition parties under the umbrella of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) have described as worrisome, the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks and killing of soldiers at a military base in Borno State.

The CUPP in a statement yesterday by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Comptroller General of Customs.

The coalition said they should be sacked on grounds that they were at one time or the other allegedly found playing politics with their offices instead of doing their official assignments with high level of neutrality.

The CUPP said increased attacks by elements of the Boko Haram and ISWAP on military facilities in the North East was a national embarrassment, which needed to be nipped in the bud.

“From the attack in Jili in July where we reportedly lost over 200 soldiers to Zari in August, Mainok and Kekeno and now Meitele, this is one attack too many.

“We hereby call on President Buhari to salvage the last vestiges of honour left for his regime by immediately sacking the service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, Chairman of the EFCC and Comptroller General of Customs.

“This action will both raise the morale of our troops in the fronts that there are consequences for Commanders who fail them and also give Nigerians and the international community the confidence that heads of security agencies will be neutral during the fast approaching general elections where the president and his party are headed for defeat,” the CUPP said.

It added that a government that cannot fulfil the basic essence of governance “must be shown the way out using the power of the ballot come February 16, 2019.”