The jubilation that followed the sack of the previous service chiefs has admittedly died down and now that new helmsmen are on the saddle, the question is what follows next? The deafening clamor for the former service chiefs to be dismissed was understandable; the nation was under the jackboot of criminals who ran riot, besieging homes, and holding people to ransom.
As if that was not enough, they took over the various highways turning them to hell for travelers; some they held hostage; the unlucky one they killed needlessly. Life became cheap and wasted regularly on the altar of greed and avarice; blood-thirsty kidnappers reared their ugly heads spreading chaos and causing high blood pressure in many homes. The security apparatus was overwhelmed and helpless; nowhere was safe.
Those that attempted to patronize train services had no respite either; the evil marauders ensured fear and uncertainty gripped them; at a point, it was as though the nation has been abandoned; no leadership! Somehow, now that God has intervened and their prayers granted, what are Nigerians to expect? The newspaperman believes that the change must be sweeping in its entirety. First, there must be a security crackdown. The bad elements within the armed services should be flushed out and sacked.
None must be spared. It’s time for the nation to forget about ethnic considerations in the quest to have a clean slate. People who are dubious must be shown the door out of the service. There must be no favoritism. If professionalism is anything to go by, this is the time to settle for it. The available soldiers must be trained and re-trained; there is something about the capacity building that leads to efficiency and subsequently safety and protection of life.
Secondly, there must be a thorough shakedown; the entire armed forces should embrace new intelligence-gathering methods; there are modern technological gadgets efficient enough to produce results at minimum costs. The spate of kidnapping, robbery and extorsions would be instantly curtailed. The president must go further to wipe away his current set of ministers; they have lost it; this is why there is so much anger against the president.
They have nothing more to offer just like the former service chiefs! The ministers in charge of works and housing, power. transport and aviation have nothing to offer Nigerians. They are just there receiving tax payer’s money for nothing. The president should also change tactics; he should be more decisive’ anyone with a shred of stained oil should be kicked out. The business of governance should be taken more seriously.
Thirdly, this is the time for the president to bring in more efficient hands to turn things around. It is not compulsory he must dance to the tune of supposed godfathers who never has the interest of the nation at heart. The president is elected by Nigerians and so he has the free hand to choose from whoever he wants to. Now that the new service chiefs have assumed office, the wind of change must spread; this is the only time Nigerians can celebrate.
