Elder statesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi has reiterated his call on the nation’s service chiefs to resign over growing insecurity.
The Chairman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) renewed the call while saying that the service chiefs would have resigned in other climes.
The nation’s service chiefs include Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
He lamented that Nigerians found it difficult to resign even when they were not performing on an assigned task.
“In civilised societies, the service chiefs should have thrown in the towel and acknowledged the fact that they cannot handle what is going on.
“Are we in a civilised society? Have you seen somebody who has been accused of corruption or of one misdemeanour or the other in public office of this country who has resigned on the basis of the accusation or allegation against him or her?
“Not even on the basis of conviction in court. We don’t resign from jobs based on principles. That is why we are where we are now,” Abdullahi told Vanguard.
Meanwhile, the former Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) dismissed claims that the North is afraid of restructuring of the country.
He disclosed that he had spearheaded talks with the leaders of other regional socio-cultural groups in Abuja about restructuring.
“We (the north) are not afraid of restructuring. I coordinated Ohanaeze, Afenifere and PANDEF in three summits in Abuja, it is part of the restructuring. We are not afraid of restructuring. If we are, why would I be meeting with Ohanaeze, Afenifere and PANDEF?
“When you have a system that has failed, that is not responding to suggestions, advice and so on, there is nothing one can do. We can only advise. The country is supposed to have a unified force.
“This country has only 300,000 policemen. Go and check United Nations statistics. No other country has less than 1.5 million policemen except Nigeria.
“Now, most of these policemen are doing non-police jobs, guarding big men and women and your houses and so on while the larger society is facing all manner of danger. That is not what it should be,” Abdullahi stressed.
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