Jonathan Never Accused Former Service Chiefs of “Unnecessary Competition”

Reports in the media yesterday which claimed that President Jonathan said

during his visit to Yola on Tuesday that he “fired” former service chiefs

because of “unhealthy competition” amongst them are untrue and misleading.

 
It appears that for reasons of mischief and reckless sensationalism, a

section of the media deliberately chose to misrepresent the President's

innocuous and clear call for greater synergy and inter-service cooperation

in the war against terrorism.
 
President Jonathan did not at anytime during his remarks in Yola say that

the former chiefs were guilty of undue rivalry, nor did he say, as claimed

by some newspapers, that such unhealthy rivalry was responsible for recent

security breaches in Adamawa and other parts of the country.

 
As Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces and Chief Security Officer of

the Federation, President Jonathan is fully aware of the importance and

sensitivity of all defence and security-related matters. If he had any

reprimand or admonition for the former service chiefs, which he does not,

he would not have cavalierly given it at a public function as the media

falsely reported.
 
The President has nothing but praise for the manner in which the outgoing

service chiefs did their job in very challenging circumstances and he did

not in the course of his remarks in Yola suggest or imply that any

wrongdoing, lack of cooperation or unhealthy competition was reason for

the recent changes in the Military High Command.
 
Members of the Armed Forces and all objective observers know that such

changes are routine and in the interest of the growth and well-being of

the Armed Services.
 
President Jonathan has no need therefore to justify the recent changes to

anyone and the recourse by the media to a totally off-the-mark

interpretation of his remarks in Yola to explain the changes was most

unnecessary and pointless.