Social Crusader and Global President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor has condemned in totality the composition of the National Security Council for being heavily skewed in favour of the Northern part of the balance.
Eholor made the remarks barely few days after Navy Commodore Kayode Olofinmoyin, former Military Governor of Ogun State condemned the composition of the National Security Council that comprises of 9 northerners against 2 Southerners.
Eholor while reacting to the comment made by the former Ogun Military Governor described the make-up of the national security structure as a clear example of political inequality in the country and one of the reasons elevating ethnic tension in the country.
He described the composition as unhealthy for national unity and peace a situation where nine out of the 11 members on the National Security Council are from the Northern part of the country.
“President Buhari is setting a very bad example that will hunt Nigeria for years. For crying out loud, we are practicing the Presidential system of government which promotes equality in what is known as federal character and the rule of law. But it’s obvious the President is not ready to promote religious and ethnic tolerance going by his appointments and body language.
“The President must promote equity by balancing the composition of the security architecture between the North and South to gain the trust of all Nigerians. Because without equality there won’t be meaningful development and lack of trust is dangerous for any group that wants to move forward.
” Mr. Olofinmoyin was right; aside the President, the majority of the members of the security councils, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd); the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen Attahiru Ibrahim; the Director-General, Department of State Services; Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi; the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; the Chief of Navy Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu are all Northerners.
“The only Southerners in the council are the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Air Staff AVM Isiaka Amao.
“If you check his recent appointments into EFCC, POLICE, PRISON SERVICE, CUSTOM, CIVIL DEFENSE etc. They are all northerners. The President should urgently address this situation to prove to Nigerians that he’s President to all.” He said.
