The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, without further delay, sack the National Security Adviser, Major Gen, Babagana Monguno (rtd) for what it called “gross failure” of the retired military chief.
This call is coming on the heels of Tuesday attack on the campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Afaka, Kaduna State by armed bandits.
The Nigerian Army later confirmed that two of its officers were killed in the attack while one senior officer was abducted.
Demanding the immediate sack of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno, the elders lamented that the development was an indication that no Nigerian is safe in the country.
The Northern elders in a statement also sought an in-depth review of the entire security architecture of the country, stressing that the entire security chiefs must be blamed.
The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEPD), in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Zana Goni, said that it was time for the president to do away with Monguno following the worsening insecurity in the country.
The deteriorating security situation, according to the Coalition, is a sign that Monguno, who manages the nation’s security, is not on top of his game.
The statement criticised stakeholders in the region over their alleged “long silence in the face of unbearable criminal acts by armed herdsmen and insecurity across the country ‘thereby giving a bad image of the region.”
“We find it once more expedient to comment on the worsening security situation in the country, especially the latest attack on a military formation, the Nigerian Defence Academy, which is the institution where future military leaders are trained.
“The fact that a fortified military institution could be so easily invaded by armed militias without resistance has left us with the conclusion that no part of this country and no citizen, no matter his or her status, is safe again.
“Without mincing words, we wish to attribute this ugly development to intelligence failure and gaps in the capacity of our armed forces. We wish to strongly say here that the attack is a slap on the Nigerian intelligence community and the armed forces.
“The retention of the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Monguno, at the time the president listened to the voice of reason and replaced service chiefs, may contribute to the continuously deteriorating security situation in the country.
‘‘As Northern elders, we have found it very important to call on President Buhari to remove the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), whose office and responsibilities are critical to the achievement of comprehensive security all over the country but hasn’t used the high esteem of his office in any productive ways since his appointment as NSA.
‘‘The reason for this call is not farfetched. We believe that Major-Gen Monguno was part of the gross failure associated with the tenure of the former security chiefs and his continued presence in the office will make the success Buhari intended to achieve with the changes very difficult, if not completely impossible.”
