Former Chairman of Transparency International Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (rtd), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd).
He stated this while reacting to the controversial claim made by the minister on February 18 that unarmed Nigerians should stop being “cowards” and rise to defend themselves against bandits and other marauders.
Reacting, Williams told Sunday Punch that the President ought to sack Magashi over the comment.
The retired general said the minister deserved to be sacked because his comment was tantamount to making a joke of a serious situation.
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“If I were the President, I would sack the Minister of Defence. I’m telling you, I would sack him because he’s making a joke of this situation. He’s behaving like a comedian.
“If he knew his job, he wouldn’t utter that nonsense. I want to believe that he was joking when he made the comment. But for making such a joke out of a serious issue, I would sack him if I were the President.
“How would schoolchildren rise up and defend themselves when they are being kidnapped? Statements like that don’t make us look serious outside,” Williams said.
He advised the Federal Government to rejig the national security architecture.
“What Nigeria needs right now is for the National Security Adviser to set up a committee that will reorganise the security architecture of the country.
“Part of the reorganisation should be separating the paramilitary police from the police service. Once you overhaul the whole security architecture, everything will fall into place.
“For example, we have the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Ask the people about the job of the civil defence; many people don’t know.
“That is why there is a need for the reorganisation of the security architecture for better efficiency of the security agencies. We are spending so much on these agencies and yet the safety situation is not improving,” Williams said.