Atolagbe’s redeployment doubts military’s integrity in ending Plateau crisis–CSOs

*Seeks Buhari’s order reversing action 

More protests have continued to greet last Monday’s unexpected redeployment of Major General Anthony Atolagbe out of Plateau State as the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, by the Defence Headquarters.  

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs under the aegis of  Conference of Harmonised Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria has joined in the fray by describing the transfer of OPSH,a military task force saddled with the responsibility of restoring peace in the crisis-ridden state, as a major affront on the sensibilities of Nigerians. 

A statement issued by the group after rising from its Extraordinary Emergency General Assembly in Abuja yesterday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the immediate reversal of what it described as “the ill-fated redeployment”  of the OPSH Commander, failure of which it noted, will” put to question the integrity of the nation and her avowed commitment to security.”

The group in the statement signed by  its Executive Director, Dr Mrs Diana Apam, said “we are confronted with s challenge that if left unresolved would put to question the integrity of the nation and her avowed commitment to security.” 

The equally threatened to “boycott every political process leading to 2019 general elections,  should this redeployment not be reversed.” 

“The coalition would nevertheless mobilize her teeming members across the country to demonstrate her concerns if the Defence  Headquarters  is allowed to implement her evil agenda against the stability of the country. 

“This is because,  it is very  clear that the Defence  Headquarters  is misguiding the president and must be called to order, “it insisted.  

According to the group, “President Buhari’s  will is being  tested by the decision of the Defence  Headquarters  to redeploy the commander of the special task force , Operation Safe Haven Jos at this critical and boiling point of his successes in resolving the crisis in Plateau  and neighboring states.”

It said:”It is not in doubt,  the arrests  and starling revelations that the commanders professionalism has achieved  .It is not also in doubt that President Buhari-led  Federal  Government is very committed to the security of lives and property of our people.. 

” The commitment of the president has been demonstrated in very many instances and consistently too.

“One would therefore be left to wonder what is the motivation for the defense headquarters to act in contrast to the ideals of President  Buhari administration. 

“We are aware as much as the international community that, allegations of political interest were made by citizens,  civil society organisations,  political parties,  religious organizations,  and even the president. 

“If this was true, and it is true anyway,  why then would a courageous officer be sanctioned for making arrests of certain people? Why is the Defence Headquarters  giving the president a bad name contrary to his well known stand to end insecurity in the country? ”

The CSO said it was” constrained and persuaded to say this,  that why President  Buhari has genuine thoughts about the country’s security,  the Defence  Headquarters  appears  to have a different agenda.”

“This is evident in the flagrant  and abusive pressure put on the commander by politicians to release the arrested suspects and then now,  his redeployment, “it added.  

The group which said it wondered” why would the Defence  Headquarters  appears  to be in the same school of thought with politicians who are identified as sponsors of these incessant killings and who had called for the redeployment of the commander.”

“Why was the call on the redeployment of the politicians heeded to?The refusal of the commander to release the arrested suspects has led to a dramatic session of vilification .

“We are more so, worried that the Defence  Headquarters, in her  decision appears not to factor in the feeling of the masses who are very satisfied with the approach of the commander in his operations.

“We are saddened with the DHQ’s action given the fact that this government generally is poised to providing security of lives and property. 

“One would therefore doubt , if  president Buhari is aware of this redeployment more so that there has been occasions of institutions misrepresenting the president, “it further said. 

” The civil society views the action of the Defence  headquartersy as an affront  on the sensibilities of Nigerians. How on earth do you seek to truncate a process that is set in place to return permanent peace in Plateau  State  in the name of redeployment? 

“Why wait till terrifying arrests were made before bringing up the issue of redeployment out of the blues? We are persuaded to think that some people are bent on misguiding the president, “it further said

The organization going further, said:” It is a known fact that  the nation’s  enemies and political enemies of the president have infiltrated everywhere including the Presidency, but one would expect that they  do not toy with issues of national security.”

“Mr President,  this is the time to redeem your self image and be accountable to the people by directing an immediate reversal of the redeployment of the commander and to ensure that he is supported to implement far reaching reforms in the operations of the command with a view to restoring lasting peace in plateau state .

“We have  clearly identified traces of sabotage within the command operational system as championed by internal elements and we call on the president to act fast.”. .

It alleged that the Chief of Staff to OPSH, Brigadier Bello, which it noted, had spent over  seven years in the task force president as one of the enemies fueling the development.

To this end, the coalition demanded  an “immediate redeployment of the Chief  of Staff  to the the special task force,   Brigadier  Geny Bello as he is alleged to be an agent of the president enemies fueling the crisis.” 

Hear it: “We read the concerns of one Brig, General Bello who has been the Chief  of Staff  to the Operation  Safe  Haven  commander for seven years. This has conveniently made him to be in the advantage position to sabotage successive commanders especially those whose interest are believed to be against the desire of his agents. 

“It is our persuasion that, it’s  such officers that would be recommended for redeployment as opposed to what has happened. 

“Mr President,  the international community is watching and we must be attentive to their sensibilities if we desire to protect the nation’s integrity and sustain their support.”

According to the coalition, “Various reasons have been advanced by various groups in the state and outside the state calling for the reversal of the redeployment.” 

“Mr President, it will be in our best interest to ensure that the yearning of the people is taken into account especially as we advance towards the 2019 general elections . 

“We are constrained to observe that the president is being  put on a high negative pedestal,  in order for his enemies to exploit the situation politically. We are therefore,  calling on the president to act and redeem his image and fast too, “it further said. 

It alleged thus:” We have it on good authority,  that he has used his influence in the command to leak security information to interested parties. This is the highest level of  compromise to national security. 

“Mr President,  we need to be alive to be able to be Nigerians. Until our lives and property are secured, else nothing  matters.”

Advancing more of its reasons why Atolagbe’s redeployment must be reversed, the group said:”It is evident that the command has made far-reaching positive inputs as we advance towards l permanent peace in Plateau  State.” 

The statement read further:”It is therefore imperative for that peace process to be enforced by the commander,  Major  General  Anthony Atolagbe whose professionalism has achieved beyond any iota of doubt. 

“We are particularly miffed by the continued conspiracy against the state using national security. We believe that the president would not allow the situation degenerate as we move into general elections.”

“The  president has demonstrated capacity and we hope he will act accordingly in line with the reality on ground..  president would be emboldening agents of this killers and shielding them if the Defense Headquarters is allowed to have her way. 

“We are hopeful that this would not be allowed to subsist in the best interest of national security.”

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Atolagbe’s redeployment doubts military’s integrity in ending Plateau crisis – CSOs