CISLAC sets agenda for new service chiefs

CIVIL Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, has warned the newly appointed chiefs to be professional in discharging their duties and break free from past trends of being political.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, President Muhammadu Buhari was commended was listening to the voices of reason in choosing to sack the service chiefs.

The resignation of the previous chiefs was announced on Tuesday by Mr Femi Adesina, but Mr Rafsanjani noted that it was long overdue and the hesitation to do what was necessary had nudged unrest beyond the South and to every part of the country.

“When kidnappers are now abducting hundreds of school children from their school premises and making away with busloads of travellers.”

Mr Rafsanjani added that the inability of security operatives to arrest the actions of cross-border bandits had weighed heavily on the country’s food security since farmers were either being killed or afraid of returning to their job in the fear of being killed.

Given the spate of exchanges between the army and several groups on human rights in the past year, the army chief has been advised to maintain positive communication in future instances.

“The situation where on every issue the army issue statements to condemn human rights should not continue under this dispensation.”

Mr Rafsanjani preached the need to institutionalize a standard template for transparency and accountability within the military.

“The de-radicalisation without community victims healing is not productive,” he said. “Secondly, they need to provide proper facilities and equipment to provide proper facilities and equipment to enable soldiers to effectively deal with the insurgents.”

Mr Rafsanjani called on the government to actively replace veterans who have overstayed their appointed time with fresh blood and move to stop any extant rivalry across security organisations.

“This dispensation must strike the rhythm for effective coordination, collaboration and synergy as diamond formation to victory.”

More importantly, CISLAC says, the government must win the war of the mind to win the war against Boko Haram.

Adding that most terrorists are brainwashed to believe that they are fighting for God and will go to heaven should they die in the course of doing that, CISLAC believes it is important for religious groups and the government to work closely together.

“This is the most difficult part of the war to fight,” Rafsanjani noted.