Why Service Chiefs Attended Buhari’s ‘Next Level’ Campaign Launch, Presidency Explains

The Presidency has reacted to the criticisms that trailed the attendance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s “Next Level” presidential campaign launch on Sunday by some service chiefs.

Nigerians, including members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, had condemned the service chiefs for appearing at the event meant to be a political gathering.

Advertisement

The service chiefs reportedly sighted at the event were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadiq; and Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.

Addressing the criticisms, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said critics “should have asked what brought the Service Chiefs to the “Next Level 2019” event at the State House, only to leave before it got underway.

“They were mistaken in their assumption that this was a non-political event, to showcase the achievements of the administration, the success of which they are a part.

“Hardly were they seated than did the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan AlI (Rtd) ask them to leave as this was a political gathering.

Advertisement

“They quickly left, even before the arrival of the President and for the event to get under way. The fuss over this in therefore absolutely unnecessary,” Shehu said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, speaking earlier on the matter, the spokesperson of the Atiku campaign, Mr Segun Sowunmi, had accused President Buhari of comprising the service chiefs.

“The problem with the security agencies is that they have not fully defined who they should be loyal to. The concern is that the commander-in-chief has some sort of relationship with them but when they elevate that relationship to a point where they begin to attend political events at the launch of the campaign of a political party, everybody must be scared,” said Mr Sowunmi.

The PDP had in reaction said, “The participation of Service Chiefs in Buhari’s campaign rally tagged, “Next Level” is completely unacceptable & objectionable & sends a wrong signal to the public regarding the expected professionalism, neutrality and detachment of the institution of the military from politics”

Leave a comment

Advertisement