Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing new Service Chiefs for the country.

This was contained in a statement by Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications .

Governor Wike noted that even though the appointments came late, the President should be commended for listening to the voice of the people.

He challenged the new appointees to see their appointments as an opportunity to re-engineer the
nation’s security architecture which has suffered tremendous setback in the last five years.

“The new Service Chiefs should not politicise security by aligning with politicians. What the country needs now is competence and professionalism that will reduce insecurity to the barest minimum, ” he stated.

Governor Wike noted that Nigerians who lost confidence in the former Service Chiefs are looking up to the new appointees to make the desired change.

He called on all levels of government to give the Service Chiefs the needed support they would require to execute their assignments.

“This is an opportunity to serve the nation and I believe that the Service Chiefs will be focused and dedicated, ” he added.

Announcing the new appointments on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina noted that the service chiefs have also retired from service.

Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

President Buhari appreciated the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.

He congratulated the new Service Chiefs and urged them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The replacement of the Service Chiefs by President Buhari comes after numerous calls for their sack over the increasing insecurity in the country

The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.