By Aiyeku Timothy
A former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, has hailed the choice of the new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the decision was well-informed.
Shettima, who reportedly joined Nigerians in the call for the removal of the former service chiefs, said his agitation was never personal.
The now Senator representing Borno Central spoke to newsmen in Maiduguri, stressing that Buhari made well-informed choices in his appointments of new service chiefs.
He said, “The President made a well-informed decision. I have interacted with some of them and I can attest to their character and professionalism. General LEO Irabor (the chief of defence staff), is one of the finest officers the Nigerian Army has produced in recent times. Rear Admiral Zubairu Gambo who is the Chief of Naval Staff had served here in Borno and so has General Ibrahim Attahiru (the new chief of army staff) who was also in Borno for a brief period.
“We all know that depending on the situation General Attahiru might have met on ground as theatre commander back then, there is always a difference between when someone is working under another and when he is in charge.
“Today, he is chief of army staff who heads the Nigerian Army. This appointment provides an opportunity that will insha’Allah prove General Attahiru’s leadership credentials and I believe that insha’Allah he will succeed. The success of all the service chiefs is in our best interest as leaders and as people of Borno.
“We will gain absolutely nothing if they fail while we will gain everything if they succeed. I am sure the President made an informed decision, it is for all of us to rally round the President and the service chiefs, to give them all the support so that insha’Allah they succeed in bringing an end to the Boko Haram madness.”
“It is about our survival as a people and no one can take away the fact that these service chiefs made contributions to Borno’s fight against Boko Haram and Nigeria’s fight with bandits and other criminals. We really wish them the very best.”
Meanwhile, Shettima had once described the current COAS, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, as ‘incompetent’ after he was relieved from his duty as the Theatre Commander of the Joint military force fighting in the northeast, code named, Operation LAFIYA DOLE in the North-East in 2018.
The then governor said what Attahiru could not achieved as a northern army officer in the office as the Theatre Commander of the LAFIYA DOLE in the North-East was done by his successor, Major Gen. Nicholas Rogers, six weeks after he took over.
