ADC demands transparency over sudden sack of service Chiefs
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly explain the reasons behind the sudden dismissal of Nigeria’s service chiefs, saying the move has raised concerns about transparency and national stability.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said that while the President has the constitutional authority to reshuffle the military leadership, the timing of the decision coming amid rumours of an attempted coup—warrants a clear explanation to Nigerians.
The Defence Headquarters had earlier dismissed reports linking the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary celebrations to an alleged coup plot as “false and malicious.”
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“We acknowledge that the President reserves the power to make such changes as he may deem fit. However, we are somewhat concerned that this change is coming in the wake of widespread rumours of an attempted coup,” the party stated.
The ADC accused the Federal Government of handling the development in a “confusing and evasive” manner, saying its lack of clarity was fueling unnecessary speculation.
“The government’s reactions have veered between deliberate obfuscation and outright confusion in a matter that required crystal clarity,” Abdullahi said.
The party also noted that several of the dismissed service chiefs had only served for about two years, describing the shake-up as unusually abrupt.
“This kind of decision has serious and far-reaching implications for stability within the ranks and therefore could not have been taken without strong reasons,” the ADC added.
Expressing concern over the broader implications, the ADC said the changes could destabilize the military and erode public confidence, particularly at a time when insecurity remains widespread.
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“Insecurity continues to spread, with terrorist groups staging a comeback in some parts of the country, while bandits reign supreme in others. Yet, this does not appear to be the reason for the shake-up. The administration seems more focused on regime politics than on protecting the lives of Nigerians,” the statement read.
The opposition party further warned that the abrupt changes could heighten public anxiety and give rise to more conspiracy theories. It urged the Tinubu administration to be forthright with Nigerians about its motives.
“We therefore reiterate our call for transparency. The Federal Government must explain its decision and reassure citizens that our democracy remains stable and secure,” the ADC concluded
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