Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the recent changes in the nation’s military hierarchy, saying the president is not genuinely committed to tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
Sowore, speaking from the Kuje Prison, where he was reportedly forced into remand after what he described as a “collusion between the police and the magistrate,” said Tinubu’s decision to retain the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, exposes his lack of seriousness about national security reforms.
He described Egbetokun as “illegal and incompetent,” adding that a truly reform-minded leader would have dismissed him before making any other security appointments.
“Any serious president would have fired the spent force occupying the police leadership before touching the other service chiefs,” Sowore stated.
President Tinubu had on Friday announced major changes in the military leadership, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General W. Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral I. Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position, while the police hierarchy remained unchanged.
In a statement issued by Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Tinubu expressed appreciation to the outgoing service chiefs for their contributions and urged the new appointees to uphold professionalism and unity within the armed forces.
“The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them and enhance the professionalism and vigilance that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the statement read in part.
Sowore, however, dismissed the reshuffle as superficial, arguing that leaving Egbetokun in office negates the government’s claim of overhauling the security architecture.
