Buhari's Order: Fear Grips Generals who Worked for Jonathan

President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for the arrest and trial of public servants and military officers who were indicted by presidential panel probing purchase of arms and ammunition worth N1.112tr has thrown fear into former service chiefs who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to informed security sources, the response made by the embattled ex-national security adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd), to the order has also compounded their problem as Dasuki gave away some of their names as witnesses to prove his innocence.

“I can confirm it on good authority that the ex-service chiefs have been calling some top military officers, trying to find out the level of their involvement in the committee’s findings, and most have reached out to the current NSA, pleading to return some of the alleged missing funds to avoid the president’s sledge hammer as well as prosecution.

“I am aware that some of these former (service) chiefs are away from the country for now. Shortly after their retirements, they relocated abroad at least to rest but what is happening now must have thrown them into a panic because they know deep down in their hearts that the performance of our troops under their watch was unacceptable to the Commander-in-Chief (Buhari) right from the electioneering days. I was shocked at reading the statement issued by Dasuki and that has pitched them against the president,” the source said.

According to a security source, the response made by Dasuki may have pushed them into a dilemma as they are awaiting what befall them as events unfold.

“Whoever is indicted by the panel among them, or whose name was mentioned in Dasuki’s response, would be in a dilemma now, whether to clear himself or keep silent until he is summoned.”

Speaking in the same vein, another top military officer told Leadership: "The on-going probe may consume those who played one role or the other in all the contracts awarded. I am aware all the contracts for the purchase of the arms and other equipment got the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan but they were all handled by the Office of the National Security Adviser. Whatever happens in the court will show whether due process was followed or not on Dasuki’s watch."

A middle-level officer expressed disappointment in how fine and hardworking officers and men “lost their lives or commissions in the ongoing war against terror over poor ammunition. I remember our days in Maiduguri; it was God that saved us. Whoever is indicted must be sanctioned as deterrence.”

President Buhari has vowed to deal with those involved in the dirty deal, leading to the death of many.