My Two Kobo

I have tried to resist doing this but somehow, I couldn’t. The picture is too compelling to ignore. One must say his mind regardless of political leaning. For me, it is Nigeria first.

When I signed up for President Buhari I made it plain that I would not be like Jonathanians who hid the truth from the man until it was too late. I promised to give President Buhari a piece of my mind whenever the need arises. I am going to do just that presently. The objective of course is to give him early warnings about where he is derailing – at least from my own point of view – so that he can avoid the pitfalls that brought down former President Jonathan. And that is what informed my Blunt Truth Series. This piece is another one in that series.

Whatever Mr. President does with the advice I give is his business, not mine. But I will say it as I see it. In his position, I am aware he cannot possibly know all that is happening around him. So, he needs us to point out from time to time those areas we think he, or his lieutenants, are not doing so well. The ills of Jonathan’s regime were not all committed by Jonathan but by those to whom he entrusted responsibility. So, we must point out blind spots of this regime as part of our contribution to the national conversation on Project Nigeria. I am aware whatever I have to say may be misunderstood, but what can one do about that? Nothing.

Here we go….

On Monguno and the Ikoyi Dollars

The (now) suspended DG of NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, has revealed that he briefed the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, about the Ikoyi Dollars and what it was meant for. The Presidency has however denied it. Both Monguno and Oke are reportedly trading words over who briefed who and who did not. As things are now, it is Monguno’s words against Oke’s.

If these claims are true, then I think the NSA should recuse himself of the Osinbajo panel probing the circumstances surrounding the stash of the cash in an Ikoyi apartment. It is my opinion that the mere mention of the NSA’s name in connection with the stash is enough to disqualify him from sitting in that panel. This, however, does not in any way suggest he is culpable. Or guilty. It is just that one should not sit in judgment in a case he has been mentioned.

DSS Recruitnent

A pattern seems to be emerging suggesting that some people in the corridors of power are taking advantage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ill-health to prosecute their own agenda.

I have always advocated merit above all other considerations in recruitment into any position, private or public. As a professional, I have spent years preaching and practicing this virtue. I really don’t care much for the so-called quota system or federal character principle in our public service. In my view, it only succeeds in promoting mediocrity over competence, rewards the indolent and discourages the hardworking. And of course, it lacks equity.

Still, it is not altogether a bad idea. The principle does have its merits in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country like ours if sincerely applied. And that is a big IF.

Today I find myself conflicted by having to align with the principle with regards to the recent recruitment exercise into the Department of State Security Service (DSS). The picture that has emerged out of that exercise is scandalous, and if I seem here making an about-turn it is because there appears to be a brazen and blatant act of nepotism at play in the exercise. Surely Mr. President cannot possibly be aware of it.

A vivid picture of the exercise is illustrated in a chart currently circulating in the media. The chart shows an obvious lopsidedness in favour of some states in the north, notably, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Bauchi. For instance, Katsina State alone has 51 of the 479 new cadets recruited, more than the number recruited from the six south-south states of Rivers (7), Cross River (9), Akwa Ibom (5), Bayelsa (7), Delta (8), and  Edo (6).

Kano has 25 new cadets, while Kaduna and Bauchi have 24 and 23 respectively.

My first impulse on seeing the statistics was to ignore it and put it down as our usual way of reading ulterior motive into everything. I changed my mind however after reading a statement by the Presidency justifying the numbers. The statement, wishy-washy as it is, in my view, and without giving details, says the lopsidedness is meant to correct past lopsidedness in recruitment into the DSS.

While it may not be fair to aver that there was fraud in the DSS recruitment, everything about it suggests there was nepotism

The statement states further “in an organisation that is very sensitive and an important one for national cohesion and stability such as the Department of State Services, DSS, there is always the need to ensure balance in recruitment and manning. This is also true of institutions such as the Army, the Navy and Air force…….Where such balancing in line with Federal Character is breached, the need arises from time to time, to find a way of redressing such inequity….”

This must qualify as one of the most disingenuous and dilatory statements I have ever read, and it does nothing to assuage the general feeling that nepotism was at play somewhere. How much lopsidedness existed in the DSS against Katsina State before now to warrant allocating to it more number than the entire south-south states? Clearly, the statement is unconvincing.

We know that Mr. President is from Katsina State. We also know that the boss of DSS, Lawal Daura, is also from Katsina State, and that the DSS is under the Office of the National Security Adviser which itself is under the Presidency. How can anyone convince us that truly an imbalance had been existing against Katsina State in the DSS and there is now an urgent need to correct it now that a Katsina man is in charge of the agency?

Common! Somebody ought to be smart enough to know that Nigerians are not that dumb not to notice the curious coincidence. Let me repeat, President Buhari I know cannot possibly be part of this. But he needs to be told, after all the buck stops at his table.

Nobody disputes the fact that what happened in the DSS recruitment is a replay of the norm everywhere in our country over the years. But that is precisely why we elected President Muhammadu Buhari to change things for better, to do things differently, not to perpetuate them. Of course no one would lose any sleep if either he or any of his lieutenants try to help their kit and. Still, being so blatant about it is sheer insensitivity in a country driven by emotions, a country where cry of marginalization easily rents the air.

While it may not be fair to aver that there was fraud in the DSS recruitment, everything about it suggests there was nepotism, and it is corruption. This is as I see it., and this is my two kobo to my President.