He said: “While commending the efforts of the Armed Forces so far, you need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well-coordinated joint effort which will bring a desired end to these insurgencies within three months.”

The decoration ceremony came exactly a month after their appointment on July 13, 2015. Therefore with the three months’ notice, by November 13, 2015 or before the end of the year at the latest, Boko Haram terrorism should be history in the country.

Armed with impeccable military career and record of honesty, President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated new strategic measures to address seeming insecurity in the country. He has instructed the location of the military high command centre close to the theatre of war and engaged in diplomatic shuttle to secure the collaboration of neighbouring countries in tackling the insurgents frontally.

In demonstrating abiding loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) swung into action immediately. ONSA is statutorily empowered by Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 to coordinate and support “all security, intelligence, law enforcement agencies and military services to prevent and combat acts of terrorism in Nigeria.” Therefore, the office is the most powerful after the Presidency in ensuring effective formulation and implementation of comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy in the country.

In less than 24 hours of the Presidential directive, the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno led the security chiefs to the warfront for on-the-spot-assessment and for strategic planning. Those in his entourage included Lt-Gen Abayomi Olonishakin, Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. General T.Y. Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar Chief of Air Staff and Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase. The only person conspicuously missing is the seeming taciturn Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawan Daura, who rather prefers to acts behind the scene.

More fighter jets and attack helicopters were deployed, with the Chief of Air staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar commanding some of the air missions. Meanwhile, videos have emerged of aerial bombardments and destructions of terrorists’ bunkers and other locations, especially in Sambisa Forest.

The ground troops were not left out as they continue to engage the disorganised and fleeing terrorists in merciless operations using armoured trucks and other sophisticated armaments. Surprisingly, the daring terrorists attempted an ambush on the convoy of Chief of Army Staff during an operational tour of the front. Fortunately, none of the demented terrorists escaped as they met their waterloo from the gallant troops who killed most and arrested others.

It is gratifying to also note efforts being made to address the plight of the traumatised Internally Displaced Persons through interventions of humanitarian bodies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The top security officers are currently enjoying the euphoria and the goodwill of President Buhari. The honeymooning of the election victory has been sustained where every appointment, every pronouncement, in fact every action of the leadership of the current administration receive overwhelming endorsements.

While the politicians can play politics with every issue, the security chiefs should remain focused on the job by providing qualitative leadership and improving the welfare of the foot-soldiers. They should sustain the momentum on the offensives against the terrorists by improving strategies on the ground and marshalling new approach to meet the deadline. They should ensure their troops receive sufficient training, adequate equipment, and incentive to motivate them in the war on terror.

The security chiefs should ensure that their spokespersons are not only forthcoming with timely and factual information, they should also encourage media coverage of aspects of counter-terrorism operation, where necessary by embedding journalists in missions.

Since no operation succeeds without cooperation of other stakeholders, service chiefs should sustain the existing inter-agency collaboration and coordination against rivalry, especially on joint operations. In fact they should emulate the harmonious working relationship of their spokespersons under the auspices of the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) where every agency is treated equally with utmost respect.

The appointment of people from the insurgency affected areas into top security positions should be impetus for obtaining critical and required intelligence on the real sponsors, sympathisers and embedded terrorists within the communities for prosecution.

While they exert their military might on the undesirable elements, if genuine opportunity for peaceful dialogue opens, the political class could explore it. The Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), a non-governmental organisation, recently disclosed that some Boko Haram elements have approached it to facilitate a dialogue with the government. If such a negotiation succeeds, it may facilitate the release of abducted Chibok girls, end senseless blood-letting and restore peace to the war-ravaged North-Eastern Nigeria.

The security chiefs must acknowledge the fact that the security challenges confronting the country including insurgency, militancy, armed robbery, kidnappings and other crimes, can be reduced through effective intelligence gathering as well as inter-agency collaborations.

The three month deadline issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to defeat Boko Haram is achievable considering that in its twilight, the last administration recovered 22 local government councils from terrorists within six weeks. The ground troops and fighter-pilots who achieved the feat are still the same ones to be deployed for this new task. What has changed so far, is the leadership which is expected to lead the forces in winning the renewed war on terror.

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When the erstwhile super Finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala compelled the termination of my appointment as a civil servant after serving my nation for nearly 20 years, I returned to my hobby of writing. My retirement, which I am still contesting in court, was because of a single article (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Controversial Appointments) out of the over 200 I had written since my university days in Bayero University Kano.

Not only was I retired prematurely, many institutions and individuals in government became afraid of associating with me for fear of victimisation. I had been stigmatized as the “Rebel in Civil Service.”

Surprisingly, while many agencies of government and managements distanced themselves from me, I received massive goodwill from the media who not only stood by me but provided their platforms for my works.

Meanwhile few top public officers do secretly seek my professional advice in public relations management. There is an instance when one of the spokespersons in the Presidential Villa sought my intervention about a report on First Lady Patience Jonathan in Sahara Reporters, which was considered inaccurate. Since I am a beneficiary of media goodwill, I called Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters to correct the erroneous aspect of the said report.

“Shuaibu, you are either crazy or unserious! Why do you want to defend those that tormented and sacked you from the public service?” Sowore was serious concerned.

I took time to explain that there is a major difference between my person ‘Shuaib’ a Nigerian who has right to his personal opinion and conviction and Shuaib who now represents a PR consultancy for professional attainment and contentment. I assured him that I will continue to express myself through opinion writing while engaging in media relations for my clients. Sowore accepted to publish the Presidency’s response on Patience Goodluck Jonathan and subsequent press statements from that office.

Curiously, there were very few top functionaries who stood by me and showed support during the critical period of my life. Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser (NSA) was one of them.

It was after attending a workshop organised by The Netherlands Embassy for security agencies where I presented a paper and also published an article (Debating Government Media Relations) that I received an invitation to meet with NSA. I wrote on that first encounter too with Dasuki: (Sambo Dasuki on Security Media Relations)

During our first encounter, I was furiously criticising everything about President Jonathan and his administration. Dasuki was very attentive, probably thinking that my bitterness was informed by my sudden exit from the service.

Dasuki attempted to influence my return into the service but I was reluctant. I had decided to rather work for government but not inside government so as to enjoy my liberty of self-expression and doing what I like rather than being another subservient civil servant. I nevertheless obliged his request that I should provide him daily media content analyses that should include suggestions and recommendations. I recruited highly brilliant, young but unemployed Nigerian graduates into my team.

In the course of our occasional interactions, Dasuki was always open and transparent about information. He once told me how himself and two young military officers (they are still alive) travelled to Jos to brief Major General Buhari who was then the GOC of 3rd Armoured Division on the furtherance of the planning of the 1983 coup which made Buhari the major beneficiary of the ouster of the elected President Shehu Shagari. He even told me how Buhari expressed his bitterness about insinuations on his stewardship in one of the public institutions. Dasuki assured the then GOC not to worry about such reckless and mischievous insinuations.

I asked why he participated in the ouster of Buhari just less than two years afterward. He simply answered that General Buhari should know whom he should blame.

Probing further, I enquired how he treated Buhari on the day of the August 1985 coup. His exact response goes thus:

“I always respect and dignify my seniors and those in positions of authority whether in service or after. Though a young officer, I was reluctant to be among those that arrested him. And I was not. I only met him afterward at Bonny Camp with Lawal Rafindadi. There is no way I could have maltreated him as being alleged in some quarters. I am glad most of the actors are still alive.”

Dasuki told me the story of how himself and some others confronted late General Sani Abacha over June 12 election which was won by Chief Mashood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO). This led to their premature retirement. The persecution that followed forced him into exile where he teamed up with opposition elements struggling for the return of democracy in Nigeria.

Apart from serving as Managing Director of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) after the return of democracy, Dasuki had engaged in legitimate international businesses, mostly outside the country.

On his roles in politics, Sambo Dasuki narrated how he supported the campaign aspiration of Muhammadu Buhari for Presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011. In fact, he mentioned names of individuals who were also privy to his active involvement including respected Northern elements like Adamu Adamu, Bashir Kurfi, Wada Maida, Sule Hamman and Kabir Yusuf among others.

The major shocker for me in his narratives was his campaign for Buhari to emerge the joint candidate of ACN and CPC in 2011. He disclosed how he pleaded with Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in the presence of Bisi Akande to accept Muhammad Buhari as the joint Presidential candidate for ACN and CPC. Dasuki stated that he knelt down begging ‘Baba Bisi Akande’ who was then Chairman of ACN that “General Buhari is a man to be trusted.”

In their belief that Yorubas and South Westerners are never religious fanatics especially regarding politics, Dasuki and his group suggested that Tinubu should be a running mate to Buhari. When other elements opposed that proposition, Tinubu team therefore recommended a Buhari-Osinbajo ticket. Unfortunately, the ticket failed to stick as Pastor Tunde Bakare was eventually pushed forward by other forces.

Watch out for Part II: The Spymaster and Soft Approach to Countering Terrorism and Dasuki’s support for President Jonathan

Yushau A. Shuaib
A Syndicate Writer and Blogger

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“The National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, is a prince of the Sokoto Caliphate… you hardly hear him or see him throw his weight around…”
-Ochereome Nnanna, Vanguard Columnist.

Within a week, last week to be precise (March1-7, 2014), the name of the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan suddenly became an item in opinions and features. Most of them actually wanted him to be visible and outspoken on security operations, especially over the barbaric atrocities being committed in a section of the country.

Some respected columnists also questioned the silence of NSA over recent security challenges.Writing under his weekly column in Thisday, Olusegun Adeniyi asked if Sambo Dasuki has a phone number of any editor in Nigeria, while Steve Osuji in his column in the Nation simply asks: “Boko Haram: Where on earth is the NSA?”

Since they are not faceless writers, their articles were well-intentioned and wakeup calls on security situation in the country though some of the assumptions on the person of the NSA were on wrong premises.

This writer has a memorable encounter with Sambo Dasuki by virtue of being a syndicate writer. Sometimes last year I honoured an invitation to speak at a Media Seminar organised by Netherlands Embassy for top security spokespersons, media practitioners and right activists. In attendance were Gen. Chris Olukolade of Defence Headquarters, Frank Mba of the Nigeria Police, Dapo Olorunyomi of Premium Times, Manir Dan Ali of Trust, online bloggers including Tolu Ogunlesi and Japheth Omojuwa among many others. Immediately after, I penned my experience in an article on Debating Government Media Relations which was widely published.

Surprisingly, a week later, I received an invitation from a top security officer to meet the NSA. Having been careful of avoiding any ‘Wahala’, I am conscious of my writings on security. While I asked for the prayers of my family for safety, I did an online search on Sambo Dasuki.

What I found out were revealing: The American trained security strategist, Dasuki was Aide-de-camp (ADC) to Military President Ibrahim Babangida. Former Military Governor of Kaduna, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar in an interview with the Punch last year narrated how some forces aborted his attempt with Dasuki to install Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of June 12 election. He also disclosed how they jointly confronted General Sani Abacha from playing hanky-panky with Nigeria’s destiny.

Along the line, Dasuki escaped from Nigeria and lived in exile when he was hunted for his audacity and refusal to take an offer in the administration of General Sani Abacha. His millionaire father, Ibrahim Dasuki who was the Sultan of Sokoto and the most powerful traditional ruler in Northern Nigeria, was deposed by Abacha and banished to Kaduna for the ‘sin’ of his forthright son. The father, who clocked 90 year last year, is still alive.

All his life, as a royal prince, Dasuki has never been ambitious and would rather take a bow than playing dirty. He voluntarily resigned his appointment as Managing Director of Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) when he was not comfortable with President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attempt to privatise the firm against security implications.

At the time of his appointment in June 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Boko Haram insurgency was very active in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Kogi and most states in the North-East with attempted incursion towards Southern parts of the country. With emergence of Dasuki, the activities of the insurgents have been restricted to a few states in the North-East. An active advocate of constructive dialogue and engagement with different groups towards peaceful resolution of crises, Dasuki nevertheless believes decisive and aggressive confrontations are inevitable against rampaging and brutal undesirable elements.

After the online search, I sought the advice of members of Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM) where I was once the Secretary. The verdict was similar: Sambo Dasuki doesn’t believe in cheap publicity; he will rather expand resources in facilitating positive public perception on other security arms who are expected to be active and visible on the field. He hosts occasional interactions with critical stakeholders including civil societies, media and politicians for better understanding on security issues. In such encounters, he sincerely expresses his positions on realities on the ground, while charging his audience to be responsible and responsive in their information against undermining national security and national interest. A stickler to time, he can never be late to any assignment. In fact most time, I learnt, he arrived long before the commencement of events.

With those information, I had the courage to honour the invitation. To my comfort I wasn’t the only person invited to the meeting. There were some activists and members of NGOs too. When he looked at me, he asked: “Why are you very critical in your write-ups?”

I responded that writing is my hobby and PR is my profession. I am therefore conscious of whatever I write. At the end, he appealed to us to be fair and kind in our comments and writings and that we should always consider the nation first. He urged us to always channel our grievances and recommendations on national issues to appropriate authorities including his office whenever necessary.

Dasuki is polished and eloquent as he talks passionately about the Office of the President which he believes “deserves the respect of every Nigerian as the symbol of our nation and integrity.” He holds the view that there is nothing wrong with opposition politics if it is geared towards the sustenance of democracy and devoid of destructive antics that may create confusion and security breaches in the land.

Since then I have interfaced with some of the NGOs and the media towards a better understanding of security operations in the country. The recent inauguration of Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) under his office has so far reduced to the barest minimum the inter-agency rivalry in information management and encouraged designated security spokespersons to be proactive and timely in providing updates on security situations.

Professional security strategists do not need to be garrulous to prove that they are working but must work behind the scene to facilitate accomplishment of tasks. In fact respected Intelligence chiefs all over the world do not make much noise in the public because of the sensitive nature of their assignments. Even in this country, only a few Nigerians know the intelligent Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS/SSS), Ekpenyong Ita who delegates a professional Public Relations expert, Marilyn Ogar to do the necessary talking with timely updates.

In this challenging period of our life, we should encourage our security officers to do their job maturely and professionally while the designated spokespersons and political office holders do the talking.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib was published in the print edition of  Economic Confidential, Thisday, the Nation, Nigerian Tribune, Daily Trust, National Mirror, Blueprint, People’s Daily, The Sun, Leadership and Vanguard in March 2014

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In April 2012, two top Military Generals, one from Nigeria and the other from Israel, made public statements that have continued to generate debates because of the sensitive security positions they hold in governments. General Andrew Owoye Azazi is the National Security Adviser in Nigeria, the most populous Black Country in the world, and General Benny Gantz, the Chief of General Staff of Defense Forces of Israel, the nation widely believed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal.

While their individual remarks have continued to generate controversies and debates, coincidentally their respective citizens hail their positions while the governments condemn the outburst because of security implication in their respective countries and sub-regions.

Whenever the issue of Middle East is discussed, the confrontational stance between Israel and Iran always comes to mind over the alleged nuclear ambition of the latter. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Minister of Defence Ehud Barak have threatened to attacks Iran if the international community refuses to take actions. At Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day this year Netanyahu blatantly stated that: “The regime in Iran openly calls and determinedly works for our destruction. And it is feverishly working to develop atomic weapons to achieve that goal.”

The officials in Iran have denied the allegation of seeking nuclear ambition but insisted that the country is only enriching uranium for peaceful energy purposes and that its nuclear program is not a threat to anyone. Countries like the US, European Union, Canada, Japan and Australia are not swayed as they imposed sanctions on Tehran include restrictions on Iranian oil sales, and an asset freeze on certain individuals and organisations.

Probably in response to the anxiety and fear of going to war with Iran through suspected preemptive strikes, Israel’s Military Chief, Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz said he does not believe Iran will decide to build an atomic bomb and called its leaders “very rational”.

Lt-General Gantz’s remarks published in a popular Israeli Haaretz newspaper stated that “Iran is moving step-by-step towards a point where it will be able to decide if it wants to make a nuclear bomb. It has not decided yet whether to go the extra mile.”

He added that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would not make a huge mistake of going the extra mile to make an atomic bomb. In his words: “I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people. But I agree that such a capability in the hands of Islamic fundamentalists, who at some moments may make different calculations, is a dangerous thing.”

Interestingly, subsequent remarks by former Foreign Intelligence (Mossad) chief Meir Dagan, and former Shin Bet (Domestic Intelligence) chief Yuval Diskin clearly argued in line with General Gantz by criticizing Israel’s political elite on a possible strike against Iran and the unresolved Palestinian question.

While Meir Dagan pointedly said: “This (planned attack on Iran’s nuclear installations) is the stupidest idea I have heard in my life,” Yuval Diskin added that: “Israel is now led by two incompetent politicians with messianic delusions and poor grasp of reality. Their plan to attack Iran is leading to a worldwide catastrophe.”

Similar tempo is being played out in Nigeria. At the South-South Economic Summit in Asaba, Gen. Owoye Azazi, the National Security Adviser who spoke extemporal disclosed that elements within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) helped create the environment that brought about the Islamic sect, Boko Haram. He was alleged to have said: “The issue of violence did not increase in Nigeria until when there was a declaration by the current President that he was going to contest. PDP got it wrong from the beginning. The party started by saying Mr. A can rule, and Mr. B cannot rule, according to PDP convention, rules and regulations are not according to the Constitution. That created the climate for what is happening. Is it possible that somebody was thinking that only Mr. A could win, and if he did not win, he could cause a problem in the society?”

On the Boko Haram, Azazi added that: “It takes a very long period for somebody to train a sniper. But I can assure you that Boko Haram has got to a level of sophistication. There’s a lot that could be done to address the problem. Even if all leaders we know in Boko Haram are arrested, I don’t think the problem will end because of the problem that created the phenomena: religion, poverty, or the desire to rule. I think it is a combination of everything.”

Responses to Azazi were swift from the party in government and the government itself. In a statement, Olisa Metuh, spokesperson to PDP said the party remained united in support of President Goodluck Jonathan, rejecting allegations of practicing politics of exclusion. He described Azazi’s comments as “a poor reflection of the internal workings of the Party and a wrong deduction on the roots of security challenges in the country.”

President Jonathan during his sympathy visit to ThisDay office in Abuja which was attacked by a suicide bomber said: “I don’t believe that it is undemocratic practices in the PDP that could give rise to Boko Haram or any other groups. So probably, people need to ask NSA to explain what he really means.”
Many Nigerians still believe in the remarks of General Azazi which clearly pointed out that more need to be done to address the insecurity in the country through programmes and policies that have positive and direct bearings on the citizenry.

The two Military Generals in Israel and Nigeria have spoken the minds of the majority, including this writer. It is ‘the truth and nothing but the truth’ towards finding lasting solutions to regional insecurity and global peace. Probably sooner or later if Politicians are wiser, we will live to witness Iranian and Israeli leaderships celebrating their unity, while Nigerians from the South and the North will sincerely and strongly believe in the oneness of the country.

This article by Yushau A. Shuaib has been published in the Guardian, Thisday, Daily Trust, Leadership and Nigerian Tribune in May-June 2012

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