After Borno Massacre, Garba Shehu Suggests Buhari Happy With Performance Of Service Chiefs

Presidential aide, Garba Shehu, has suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to heed numerous calls to sack the country’s security chiefs over allegations of incompetence was because the president is satisfied with their performance.

Shehu, who is the senior special assistant on media and publicity to the president, was reacting to renewed calls for the sacking of the service chiefs.

The renewed calls followed the execution of over 40 rice farmers by Boko Haram members on Saturday in Borno State.

According to reports, the insurgents had ambushed the farmers, tied them up and slit their throats on their farmlands located at Zabarmari village in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

Speaking during his appearance on Arise News TV on Monday night, Shehu however said that the prerogative to sack the service chiefs was exclusive to Buhari.

He said, “I am not aware that the tenure of service chiefs is subjected to any law of regulation that is clearly stated. They serve at the pleasure of the president and (if) the president is satisfied with their performance, he keeps them. The buck stops at his table —with due respect to the feelings of Nigerians.

“The clamour for the sack is out of place considering that the president is not subject to the opinion of opposition political party which has clamoured for this all the time. It is entirely his own determination; he decides who he keeps as his service chiefs and for how long.”