Why Jonathan Sacked Service Chiefs as The Igbos Cry Again

It's funny that the Igbos who hold more top political offices in Nigeria today than others have started crying of some form of marginalisation simply because the Chief of Army Staff has been dropped. Very funny...
Anyway, indications have emerged why President Goodluck Jonathan sacked service chiefs and appointed new ones. The sack of the service chiefs was to prevent an implosion in the Armed Forces that was capable of threatening Nigeria's shaking democracy.
An internal explosion was imminent and the question arose as to...





Whether President Jonathan was unaware of the terms and conditions of service which stipulates 56 years of age and 35 years in service. Moreover, many junior generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals from the North and South-West were being retired in compliance with the TACOS to the detriment of the armed forces.
Vanguard gathered that many of the retiring officers petitioned the National Assembly to bring to the notice of their representatives, the fate that may befall their junior colleagues if nothing was done about the anomaly.
Their sack came less than seven months after a Federal High Court in Abuja, declared the appointments of the Service Chiefs in the country by the President without recourse to the National Assembly as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
Changes in the nation’s Military High Command:
Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff;
Major-General Kenneth Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff;
Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff;
and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.
“All the changes are with immediate effect.”
President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.
I’ve been vindicated — Keyamo
Speaking to AFP, Festus Keyamo who had taken the matter to court said: “My appeal to all Nigerians is not to be afraid to approach the courts to ventilate your grievance if government has committed any illegality.”
Igbo youths kick
The Youth Wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo, sees the sack of Ihejirika, differently, as it condemned same, saying that it was calculated to marginalize Ndigbo in the appointment of new service chiefs. It called on the National Assembly to reject the appointment as it lacked federal character.
Also, the Federated Council of Igbo Youths, FCIY, frowned at what it described as a planned attempt to put the Igbo nation in the back seat by the current administration and called on Ndigbo to resist the ongoing alienation of the race.
Reacting to the new appointments, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, wondered why in all the new positions shared, there was no person from the South-East considered worthy by President Jonathan to occupy any of the positions.
- I hope one day justice will return to Nigeria and it will benefit all, not some sections!