Oil theft: Resign now or be sacked, Falana tells Service Chiefs

Emmanuel Ukudolo l Monday, October 17, 2022

 

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – All the Service Chiefs in Nigeria have been called upon to resign or be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari who has demonstrated his lack of confidence in them by giving their jobs to a non-state actor and former Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.

The service chiefs include Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Naval Staff,  Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo and Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman.

Speaking on Channels Television, Human Rights Activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN said all these men are in charge of security in the country and that the fact that the President gave their job to Tompolo is indicative of the fact that Buhari has lost confidence in their competence to deliver.

In the circumstances, he said the best thing for all of them to do is to resign but that since they have failed to do so, the onus now  lies on the president to show them the way out.

“In the first place, the President has lost confidence in the competence of the military to address this hence a contract has been awarded to a non-state actor, Government Ekpemupopolo, aka Tompolo who is said to be making this discoveries now. That itself is a colossal embarrassment, to a state that is supposed to be functional, that is we have lost confidence in our armed forces,  and the police, particularly the  Navy.

“We are now giving a contract to a private person to help us. Number 2, so ordinarily, the service chiefs should have resigned , Mr. president has lost confidence in them , but since they have failed,… The President, who is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces will have to ensure that all those who are indicted in this act of oil theft are fired.

“It cannot be business as usual, otherwise the stealing will continue. Three, although the oil companies that are involved are so powerful, they are not more powerful than the federal government.

“This time around, the federal government of Nigeria must show that we are in charge of this country and therefore go after the oil companies, if the government wants information, it is out there and we are ready to assist”, Falana said.