Abaribe’s Bombshell: Buhari Summons Security Chiefs

By Uche Mbah

Barely twenty four hours after after the National Assembly put the security issue in the front burner of National discourse, an emergency meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari was summoned a day after the president presided over his first Council of state meeting since returning to the country after a sojourn to the United Kingdom.

It is expected that there will be one major agenda for the meeting: Security.

Buhari, on his return to Nigeria, has expressed surprise that the terrorist group Boko Haram is still in existence. The presidency has been selling the narrative that Boko Haram has been technically defeated even against the backdrop of reports of the group taking over more areas in Borno state and mounting their flag. Besides Boko Haram, herdsmen activities have been on the upsurge amid the controversy over the South west Security outfit, Amotekun.

Recall that the controversy over Amotekun has reached advanced stage with the Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami, making several u-turns in his position on the issue. South west leaders met with the Vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, their kinsman, after which they resolved on working out modalities for the establishment of the outfit. A meeting of state Attorneys general was called to discuss the issue.

Fears were that if the South west outfit, which is expected to quietly absorb the pan Yoruba cultural vigilante group, Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, is allowed to stand, other zones will take a cue and form their own, creating security nucleus that may be the Launchpad for secession.

Meanwhile, conspiracy theorists insist that the near total security collapse is part of an agenda. Government pronouncements seem not to debunk such outlandish claim. For example, recently, the Governor of Benue state was shot at by alleged Herdsmen-a situation that made the governor to come full circle in distancing himself from the middle course position he has been taking in treating the herdsmen menace. The presidency allegedly condemned the attack but in the same breath warned against reprisal attack.

With the National assembly calling for the resignation of Service Chiefs, and minority senate leader Enyinnaya Abaribe asking for the resignation of the president, it appears that the chicken is coming home to roost.

The two chambers of the National assembly are being regarded as appendages to the Presidency but they vehemently deny it.

In attendance at the meeting, which is ongoing as at the time of filling in this report, are all the service chiefs, Inspector General of police, Minister of Interior.