Some residents in Benin, the capital of Edo on Tuesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of new service chiefs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency announced Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Adm. Zibairu Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and Air-Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
The residents who spoke to NAN in separate interviews said the pesident’s action was a welcome development, in spite of the delay.
Akpodiogaga Emeyese, Special Adviser to the Delta Government on Community Enterprise said the president should be commended for doing the needful.
Emeyese said for a long time, Nigerians had been clamouring for the replacement of the former service chiefs, because of the level of insecurity in the country.
“We should commend Mr President for finally taking the bull by the horn.
“The major problem in this country is favouritism, tribalism, and nepotism. We should begin to preach and practise unity,” Emeyese said.
Similarly, Mr Peter Esele, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo also described the appointment of the new service chiefs as a welcome development.
Esele also opined that the change was long overdue while thanking the outgone service chiefs for their service to their fatherland.
“So, I think the president has to do this because those service chiefs had long attained retirement age.
“But be that as it may, it’s better late than never. We thank them for their services, and I’m also happy to see them go,” he said.
Prof. Julius Iyasele, former Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), UNIBEN Branch, said the action was long overdue and had even become staled.
“If you do one thing continually for too long, you might be putting a kind of load on the system.
“Once you are not able to do your job for which you are being paid, then you resign.”(NAN)