Buhari To Overhaul Security Agencies

The President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari may overhaul security agencies on assumption of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In a report made available by Leadership, the service chiefs are Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, the Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Usman O. Jibrin, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, Chief of Air Staff, Col. Sambo Dasuki, National Security Adviser.
It was gathered that these top military chiefs were appointed by the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, on 16th January, 2014, in a statement issued and signed by his media adviser, Dr Reuben Abati.
The president announced their appointments in replacement of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azuibuike Ihejirika; and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Joseph Ezeoba.

President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

Speaking with the media outfit, an informed security observer explained that it was the usual practice that service chiefs departed from the scene once the tenure of their principal expired in order to allow the new helmsman to begin on a fresh note.
“It is the norm; service chiefs always depart from the scene with the man who hired them in order to allow the new leader to bring in those who are loyal to him. Remember, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo came in, he sacked those who worked for General Abdusalami Abubakar and brought his own into the offices”.

The security observer also disclosed that with challenges going on in the country, the incoming president would like to overhaul the security agencies with a view to bringing in those whom he believes would help him accomplish his vision.

“With or without the ongoing war against the terrorists, Buhari would inject his own men whom he believes would help him implement his vision for the nation in terms of the security challenges. Those who are there now have been doing their best and we are seeing the results, yet that should not stop Buhari from appointing his own men at least for security and loyalty reasons”.
Just as President Jonathan replaced those he inherited from the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, it’s believed that General Buhari would also name a new NSA and new DG, SSS in his first week in office who would help him in identifying those who could be in charge of all the security agencies.
Those who came on board with Obasanjo on 29th May, 1999 were Lt-Gen.Victor Malu (Army), Vice-Admiral Victor Ombu (Navy) and Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (Air Force) to replace Maj.-Gen. Alex Ogomudia (Army), Rear-Admiral Samuel Afolayan (Navy) and Air Vice-Marshal Jonah Wuyep (Air Force) but were later replaced by Late Musa Yar’adua’s men then later with President Jonathan security aides.

Meanwhile, General Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the polls may have proceeded well for governors under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but following a show-down with the president-elect on Sunday, things are beginning to head south.