Fayose hails CDS appointment

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has congratulated the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, describing his appointment as meritorious and well-deserving.

The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for deeming an Ekiti man worthy of appointment as the CDS for the first time in the history of Nigeria.

Fayose, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, said the honour done Ekiti with Olonishakin’s appointment would not be misplaced, adding that he was confident that the new CDS would exhibit the courage, intelligence, honesty and hard work that Ekiti people were noted for in the discharge of his duties.

The statement read, “At this crucial time in the existence of Nigeria as a nation, I have no doubt that Major General Olonishakin will justify his appointment by making our country safe again.

“I, therefore, pray that God will continue to give him the strength and wisdom to give his best at all times.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the South-East geopolitical zone, Paul Ikonne, on Wednesday, said the recent appointment of service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari was devoid of sentiments.

Ikonne, who was the Imo State governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria during the 2011 election, said this in an interview in Abuja.

He noted that those criticising the President’s choice of the military helmsmen were being unfair to Nigerians.

Ikonne said Buhari’s appointment of military chiefs was purely professional. He said, “Fighting Boko Haram is not something you do by sentiment.”

He appealed to his kinsmen in the South-East geopolitical zone not to lose hope, noting that the Buhari government would carry every section of the country along, especially in terms of appointments and projects.

He said those trying to score cheap points because no Igbo man made the list of service chiefs would soon bury their heads in shame because the President has the people of the South-East in mind.

PUNCH