Dasuki and the complex security challenges

Dasuki and the complex security challenges; an article by by Hammid Taju published by the Vanguard newspapers on July 14, 2013



The ominous stratagem targeted at dismembering the corporate existence of Nigeria was designed and implemented by Boko Haram, portentously aggravated by sporadic militancy in the Niger delta, massive oil bunkering and theft on the high seas. Alongside the foregoing is the mindless kidnapping for ransom or extortion, occasionally culminating in murder of citizens including foreigners in various parts of the country which compelled President Goodluck Jonathan to recognize the inevitability of a radical security strategy aimed at restoring social cohesion in affected areas and Nigeria generally.

The appointment of Mohammed Sambo Dasuki, to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as the nation battled the onslaught against the country was thus interpreted by security experts as strategic and pragmatic. Dasuki, a retired colonel and son of ex-Sultan of Sokoto, cousin to incumbent Sultan, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adu Abdulkadir III, Amirul Muminin, has had a distinguished career in the military, having served extensively in the artillery corps with meritorious stint as aide –de- camp to military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. This, coupled with the fact that he is progeny of the Caliphate, stands him in an advantageous position with highly respected former patrons of security services of northern extraction. That Dasuki has developed rapport with incumbent service chiefs underscore the foregoing point.

It is significant to conceptualize the NSA’s personality, integrity and clout even as it is trite to portray him as no-nonsense, detribalized, compassionate and dedicated achiever. Consistently, and indeed routinely, his comportment yields these personality traits. Credible sources in ONSA confirmed that the NSA eschews bigotry in whatever manifestation; ethnic, religious, class or elitist; qualities that create opportunity for growth and development enabling crossing of barriers and facilitating social mobility.

Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.): New NSA
Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd)
Dasuki seemed to have been cut for greatness from his youth: He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1972, a product of the Nigerian Defence Academy and developed in the Nigerian Army School of Artillery. He attended United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the United States Army School of Artillery, Oklahoma. Also in the United States, he bagged BA International Relations and MA in Security Policy Studies. Honed in academic qualifications, security studies and military expertise, the NSA deploys multiple competences for strategic decisions and complex challenges encountered at current campaign to restore order wherever constituted authority is threatened in the country.

On his appointment as the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc where he demonstrated high managerial competence during 2002 and 2003, Dasuki identified the logic of delivering superior corporate performance by strengthening the quality of human capital. On resumption of office at the MINT, he enhanced staff morale with immediate upward review of employee entitlements and total compensation. The company’s output of banknotes and security documents soared during his tenure. In addition, the new factory and office complex in Abuja was commissioned while the Ink Mill, Tawada Ltd was established. The latter supplies security inks to the factories in Abuja and Lagos. Encouraging participation in NSPM’s key activities, the Managing Director maintained strong rapport with stakeholders and former Directors.

However he expressed reservation on the contemplated privatization of the company, the result of which culminated in his involuntary severance.

Following the perception that the incessant Boko Haram onslaught constituted a threat to the sovereignty of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan restructured the ONSA. The restructuring was followed by the declaration of emergency rule in three north-eastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa as well as the proscription of Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna Liddaawati Wal Jihad, (Boko Haram) along with the amendment of the Terrorism Act.

Dasuki assessed the complexity of his new task in terms of resource development, allocation and deployment as soon as he became the NSA. Consistent with his managerial philosophy, he promoted team work as critical tool for implementation and delivery of targeted goals.

Indeed, the NSA recognized that strategic utilization of cumulative expertise would facilitate optimal deployment of resources required for rapid restoration of social integration and peace in conflict areas throughout the country. At ONSA, staff morale and commitment derived from effective delegation of responsibilities have been sustained at high level during the one year of NSA Dasuki’s tenure. Indeed the synergy within national security network culminating in early control of conflict states is the translation of Jonathan’s strategy of confronting remote causes of Boko Haram insurgency rather than what observers hitherto perceived as use of “ excessive force”. In conjunction with other security agencies, Dasuki coordinated holistic and focused campaign consistent with international best practices.

Analysts say religion; ethnicity and regionalism have been part of Nigeria’s politics. Consequently, since the youth control the ballot box, disenchantment with leadership would most effectively be undertaken through the group. Boko Haram insurgency might have therefore been ignited by worsening socio economic conditions as well as loss of political power in affected areas. Professor Ali Mazrui, Kenyan born historian and expert on Africa, identified economic inequalities, ethnic rivalry, religious animosity and misdistribution of economic skills as a hindrance to development in Nigeria. While proffering economic quota for northern entrepreneurs, he emphasized the significance of empowerment.

Direct link between Boko Haram and external terror groups may not been officially confirmed. However, recent discovery of imported sophisticated arms and weaponry, allegedly sponsored by Lebanon based terror cell, Hezbollah, was traced to locations in Kano and Abuja thereby raising considerable anxiety in security circles. It is strongly suspected that Lebanese Shiite and Shia adherents loyal to Hezbollah might be facilitating possible attacks of Western and Israeli interests based in Nigeria.

Prior to the restructuring of the ONSA, terror acts were frequent in vulnerable states of the North-east spreading to Kano, Kaduna and suburbs of Abuja. Victims of terrorism spread through worship centers, initially churches, but subsequently mosques and faith based functions where prominent traditional rulers were targeted. Despite assurance that peace was imminent, many citizens in other parts of the country treated issues affecting them in conflict states with heightened anxiety or apathy.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/dasuki-and-the-complex-security-challenges/#sthash.UQocM2Pg.dpuf

The Website Question

I do not want to come across as an opportunistic blogger or an unscrupulous parasitic writer who will latch on to Mr. Obafaiye Sham’s unfortunate interview gaffe and the ensuing viral comebacks from the everyday Nigerian to gain readership, however I was left with no choice than to respond in my own way as the endless graphic posters, songs, skits and the almighty Blackberry Broadcasts (BCs) will not allow a man be.

It was on Tuesday last week when I received a link to a video of the interview from a friend in the UK, we exchanged a few smiles about it and life went on as usual, I honestly felt that was the end of it but then my feelings do not count when Nigerians are willing to exploit a situation for entertainment—and so it came to pass that in the next 48 hours the part of the video where the man kept repeating “my oga at the top” was on everybody’s phone and Tending on Twitter with over 2 million results on Google.

From watching the interview it was apparent that the man was a very confident man in a quixotic way and for him to have become the Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Lagos State, he must possess certain good qualities that may not be revealed in a morning’s interview, that said, the man also displayed among other unknown qualities that he is used to bossing people around by the way he shouted his interviewers down at every point.

The man showed us the personification of “kowtow” there was no question too big or too small for him to exploit as an avenue to acknowledge or praise his oga, a shameless demonstration of sycophancy which kept me wondering if he deserves that seat if at that status as the commandant of Lagos State he still has endless numbers of issues he could not handle without reference to his oga at the top.

By the weekend millions of Nigerians have responded, some for, others against. For a bit I was confused as to either join the train of those who plead for mercy for the man’s error or those who call for his head. After all was said and sentiments set in we began to carelessly pity the man that had every chance to prove his competence and expertise to the whole world, but rather chose the contrary path of exposing his bootlicking abilities and ignorantness. Yes, we all make mistakes, alas, not knowing the website of an agency you command was not a mistake that was a proper case of nescience.

The man does not have a right not to know the website address and no one has a right to request for a stop to the endless jokes. I laughed when I read the defensive essay for his forgiveness, the essay was as laughable as the interview itself; shouldn't he have apologized to Nigerians for misleading the populace by quoting a wrong website address on satellite television? Well, the youths rose to the occasion with a gusto alloyed with anger and idleness; they were angered that another of their leader has revealed his cluelessness and because they are unengaged they went into a frenzy of "my oga at the top" inspired ingenious jokes, which no doubt demonstrated the depth of creativity embedded in the minds of our youths. However we can only wish this kind of energy and passion could be vented on something more gainful and advantageous to us as a people.

In any case, we should not forget that "this too will pass" and very soon we shall have another of our oga at the top to laugh at.

With all due respect to our president, he has already given us a new reason to laugh out loud (perhaps roll on the floor too) with the Alamieyeseigha presidential pardon although we were yet to recover from the throes of the “oga at the top” laughs, I am sure very soon he will give us another one.