By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Former Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Steve Azaiki, yesterday, hailed the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw soldiers from road blocks across the country.

The decision, according to the former Bayelsa State government scribe, will save the military from ridicule and disrespect from Nigerians.

Azaiki said though the decision was sudden and should have been carried out after provision of needed logistics to the Nigerian Police, it was not responsible for resurgence of insecurity in the country.

He spoke in Yenagoa during the unveiling of his new book titled Thoughts on Nigeria: Speeches, Letters and Essay.

Azaiki said that the withdrawal of the soldiers by Mr. President was apt and would promote professionalism in the Nigerian Army.

He said: “The decision will assert the needed confidence and respect in the Nigerian military. Maybe, as a former military man, he (Buhari) was crying inside on how the military was misused and he decided that we needed to give respect to the military as an institution.

“On the criticism that trailed the decision, maybe the President should have explained to Nigerians why the military was withdrawn. In Nigeria, it is sometimes difficult to carry people along.

“Let us assume that the decision is welcomed, the administration should have restored the confidence of the people with detailed explanation on how the Nigeria Police will be empowered to assume the role of the military on the highways and restore confidence on security issues.”

On the handover note by former President Goodluck Jonathan and the claims of empty treasury, Azaiki, noted with concern the position presented by President Buhari, saying “The administration of President Buhari should have studied the hand over note and set up a shadow cabinet to study and proffer the way forward.”