- Tackle insecurity, not opponents, Nigerians tell NSA
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, FESTUS OKOROMADU, MAYOWA SAMUEL AND BRIGHT JACOB
Some retired high ranking military officers, security experts and other stakeholders have passed a vote of confidence in the newly appointed National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, saying that much more tasks are expected from him as the head of internal security.
They noted that Nigeria needed to be rescued from its current security challenges and that within the next six months, the new NSA and security chiefs were expected to prove their worth by consolidating on the gains of the past handlers and ensuring that peace returns to the country.
Ribadu’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu signaled the return of police control of internal security.
Ribadu, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police was in 2003 appointed as the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
His appointment is a clear departure from the practice whereby successive presidents since 1999 appointed military officers as NSA.
However, before Ribadu’s appointment, several other top-ranking police officers had served as NSA.
They include Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf, who served as NSA under the regime of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa/Nnamdi Azikiwe; Umaru Shinkafi, who served under President Shehu Shagari; and Gambo Jimeta, a retired Inspector General of Police, who also served under the regime of Ibrahim Babangida.
Ismaila Gwarzo, a retired AIG, served under the late Earnest Shonekan and later Sani Abacha’s military junta as NSA. He was also a police officer, the first Director of the State Security Services, and Minister of Police Affairs.
“I think Ribadu’s appointment is okay, I am not really concerned about his appointment but I am concerned about the way and manner he (Tinubu) has lumped together professionals, military and security men with a politician in the announcement”
However, some retired military officers, security experts, civil society organisations, and lawyers, among other stakeholders, in their separate reactions, said Ribadu had the capacity, experience and exposure to coordinate internal security intelligence, check corruption in security spending and also carry the military brass along in the overall mandate to stamp out insecurity in the country.
Brigadier General Sani Usman (retd), a former Army spokesman, said Ribadu would bring his experience to bear in ensuring proper coordination before the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces with the aim of tackling the nation’s security challenges.
Usman, former Director of Army Public Relations, advised Ribadu to carry Nigerians along in his efforts and ensure that he rights wrongs within the forces so that efforts at winning the war against insurgency would materialise.
He said, “I feel that the agenda will stem from the Commander in Chief, and will give strategic directives to the new security chiefs and the NSA will also key into this. By and large, I feel it is not an issue of excitement, but a challenge to all the new appointees in the security sector. Nuhu Ribadu is not a green horn in Nigeria’s security system and as someone who has headed the Nigeria Police Force, collaborated with the military in joint efforts and also worked as EFCC Chairman, I believe he has what it takes to deliver in this assignment and Nigerians expect positive results from him and his team.
“Ribadu and the security chiefs should consolidate on the gains of the past. Substantial gains were made in improving security by their predecessors. Before, some places were no go areas but today, they are liberated. Almost 100,000 of insurgents have laid down their arms voluntarily. The new security chiefs, especially the Chief of Army Staff, will bring their experience to bear. The new chiefs are well trained and have wealth of experience and I believe they will synergise with the NSA.
“New equipment are being purchased and virile joint efforts should be made. They should be able to carry the Nigerian citizens along; else, it would be war in a vicious circle. Constructive engagements going on among stakeholders, including traditional rulers, are also very vital to winning the war against insecurity.”
While Major General Ibrahim Haruna (retd) acknowledged that Ribadu was an experienced police officer who had requisite experience in intelligence gathering, the former military officer expressed concern that President Tinubu had joined Ribadu, a politician, together with security professionals.
Haruna, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture, expressed confidence in the ability of the new NSA to restore security domestically, adding that the military is vaster with international security scenarios.
He said, “Ribadu is an experienced police officer and he has experience in intelligence gathering as an intelligence officer. Be that as it may, he is a politician. He, being a police officer in the past, is now a politician. I think Ribadu’s appointment is okay, I am not really concerned about his appointment but I am concerned about the way and manner he (Tinubu) has lumped together professionals, military and security men with a politician in the announcement. It has an element of breach of security. These are public offices which they hold but they are from different stocks. He (Ribadu) is from the police, he is for internal security, the other military men are from the armed forces and services and they should be differentiated from politicians.
“The services of Army Chiefs are exclusive and are not the same with internal intelligence and policing. I don’t think it should be so in a democratic dispensation. The new leadership should give itself some space in dealing with members of the Armed Forces. Politicians can change political parties any time they want but military professionals remain to preserve the safety, protection and unity of the people. My take is that we should not put politicians and security people in the same pot.”
In his remarks, a policy strategist, Baba Yusuf, called on Ribadu to give the right directive to the new military chiefs and synergise with them properly if the war against insecurity would be won.
“What is critical is leadership at the top. The President should demonstrate the readiness and action to actually deal with issues of national security. The NSA and brilliant military officers, as good as they may seem, will become something else if the right leadership is not given to them. An action, bold face, front-facing, forward-thinking, result oriented President that will do things thoroughly and give timelines. He should instill discipline as consequences for things not done when they are supposed to be done,” he stated.
The President of a Non-Governmental Organisations in Osun State, Michael Ebofin, said Ribadu was capable of coordinating internal security intelligence and that Nigerians should give the retired police chief the benefit of the doubt to prove his worth within the next six months.
“Nuhu Ribadu should deliver, based on his experience and antecedents. Being a former police officer, even in intelligence and for him to have handled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a while, we can really see a lot of things in his resume. He is capable of coordinating internal security intelligence. From where he is coming, we can say he knows many things about internal security.
“Even, an Army officer may not be able to handle the office of the National Security Adviser the way Ribadu would do because of the nature of his exposure and openness. He doesn’t like hiding things and most of the problems we have been having in Nigeria are not in the calibre of the person holding that office, they depend on the person’s character and body language.
“Most of these public office holders see things when they get into office and change their focus and pretend not to even see, but we can see that Nuhu Ribadu is not someone like that. I really believe that he is going to perform in the office and the military doesn’t have a choice than to cooperate with him,” Ebofin said.
Lawrence Alobi, a former Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, said that the appointment of Ribadu as NSA was in order.
Alobi noted that President Tinubu’s decision was in tandem with global best practices.
“Under a democratic system, the police head internal security,” he said.
Alobi, who described the job of NSA as “purely advisory”, added that several other top police officers who served in similar capacities distinguished themselves on the job.
He said, “Nuhu Ribadu is an intelligence officer, and from his antecedent as former chairman of the EFCC, I don’t see any reason he will not excel in this position.
“The National Security Adviser is a senior official in the President’s team, and his job is to manage national security on behalf of the President and serves as his chief advisor on all matters that are vital to the very survival of the state.”
Mike Ejiofor, former director, Department of State Services, noted that since all political appointees were answerable to the President, Ribadu should not have any problem coordinating internal security intelligence.
He said, “I’m particularly thrilled about the appointment of Nuhu Ribadu because he must bring to bear his experience when he was EFCC chairman. I know a lot of people have questioned why not the military. There is nowhere in the constitution that is written that the NSA must be a military, and mind you, the president who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is not a military man.
“Do not also forget that Ribadu contested for the presidency of this country, so if he had won, wouldn’t he be in charge of the armed forces? There’s no dispute, and there shouldn’t be rancour between the office of the NSA and the service chiefs because it’s not as if they are taking command from the NSA. The office of the NSA is to coordinate and collate reports for advice to the President. If there’s a need for all of them to meet, they will have solutions to the problem and advise the president.
“So I don’t see the problem, even in the US, just a few of the national security advisers are military men, even though they all have a military background.
“Nigeria is democratising. Apart from Yar’Adua and Gooodluck Jonathan, we have had military presidents, so for them to appoint people from their own constituency, there is nothing wrong with that.”
He also pointed out that as President Tinubu campaigned as a civilian and won the election, he became the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and could wear any of the uniforms of all the nation’s security outfits.
“If he can do so, he also can appoint anyone to head the agency that gathers intelligence and also advise the President on security matters. You will also recall that Ribadu is an intelligence officer, having worked and retired as a very senior police officer,” he stressed.
An Abuja based legal practitioner, Joseph Aka, said it was the prerogative of the President to appoint the National Security Adviser.
He backed his point with historical and constitutional provision, saying, “It is important to recall that the National Security Agencies Act (CAP 278 of 1986 established three principal agencies – the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the State Security Service (SSS), now known as the Department of State Services (DSS).
“Section 4 of the National Security Agencies Act, 1986, which disbanded the erstwhile Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) and created these three intelligence agencies, specifically empowered the President, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to appoint a Coordinator on National Security.
“By implication, it is the responsibility of the President to identify the most suitable personnel with knowledge of security affairs for the position. In this circumstance, President Bola Tinubu finds himself, I guess what will top his mind in this regard is to get a trusted person who can do the job as security issues are very sensitive.
“As a person, I would say the President’s choice of Malam Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser, is a welcome development.
“The decision to appoint Nuhu Ribadu as NSA is indeed courageous, and I commend that, bearing in mind that he has an extensive background in intelligence. At a time like this, possession of intelligence gathering skill and the effective use of such is a necessity to overcome the internal security issues facing the country.”
For those questioning the tradition of hitherto recruiting military personnel, he said the priority should be the ability to deliver.
“Previous encounters have shown that military background has not helped salvage the security challenges. The time has come when sensitive appointments like NSA should not be a mere political appointment. Once the appointments are made, the appointees must be retained for the duration of their term, irrespective of incompetence.
“Do not also forget that Ribadu contested for the presidency of this country, so if he had won, wouldn’t he be in charge of the armed forces?”
“What is paramount is the ability to deliver results. Mallam Ribadu has had a stellar career, and I expect him to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the nation’s security affairs, irrespective of whether he will have to oversee Military personnel or otherwise.
“Any military personnel that feels uncomfortable can as well resign. What the President and Nigerians are looking out for is loyalty and service to the nation,” he said.
Another legal practitioner, Godwin Akpoguma, noted that the primary responsibility of the NSA, a statutory member of the Presidency, the National Security Council and the Federal Executive Council, was to advise the president on matters concerning intelligence activities and make recommendations to him on issues of national security.
“We are aware that Nuhu Ribadu is coming with a wealth of experience, expertise, and a proven track record in the field of intelligence, so he should be given the opportunity to prove himself,” he said.
A public affairs analyst based in Rivers State, Sylvester Enefeli, said that while the military was mainly concerned with safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity from external aggression, the police was better suited for internal security.
Enefeli said Ribadu had “all the tools and experience” to succeed as NSA and that his background as former chairperson of EFCC would also be a plus for him.
He also claimed that in some parts of the world, former military officers who were offered similar roles as NSA usually declined the offer.
According to him, however, in Nigeria, that is not the case as available government positions are usually viewed by “unpatriotic Nigerians” as avenues to make money.
“The military is more about protecting the territorial integrity of any nation from external aggression. That is their primary job and how their training was tailored. So, without an iota of doubt, I believe Ribadu is the right choice for the post of NSA. I mean, what are we mainly talking about and trying to deal with here? Well, it’s not external aggression, it is internal security and the police are better suited to handle it. And Ribadu, being a product of the Nigeria Police Force, though one of the most corrupt in the world, has all the tools and experience to succeed in the role,” he said.
Adoyi Adoyi, Chairman of the Joint Service Union, Police Service Commission Chapter, hailed the appointment of Ribadu as the new NSA.
In Adoyi’s submission, President Tinubu made the right call in making the appointment to replace the immediate past NSA, Babagana Monguno, with Ribadu, as he expressed confidence in his ability to perform, giving his track record when he was EFCC chairman.
Adoyi urged other security agencies, especially the military, to give their maximum support to Ribadu and not see one security agency as above the other, while also advising them to continue to subject themselves to civil authority.
“From my own point of view, it’s actually the right thing to do because the police are better grounded on the issue of internal security. Mind you, the Nigeria Police are the ones charged with maintaining internal security and for a man like Ribadu, I see him as a super cop who is intelligent enough to do the job,” he said.
A former House of Representatives member, Cletus Obun, also described the actions of President Tinubu in his meeting with the Service Chiefs and the IGP as riot acts, which they had no option but to obey.
Obun, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress told The Point that the President was not mincing words when he bared his mind concerning the nation’s security situation that led to the radical reshuffle of the architecture.
“Clearly, the C -in- C has read the riot act in his first meeting with the Service Chiefs, the change of guards notwithstanding. His charge to them was simple synergy among them and no excuses. With Ribadu as coordinator of the security chiefs directly reporting to the president, there will be no compromise in the command structure. Ribadu has a track record of being a professional security officer,” he said.
The former lawmaker added that the ex- EFCC Chairman had all it takes to meet the President’s aspirations.
“He will not only be respected but feared. The firing weapon of President Tinubu has left no room for inefficiency. The near permanent status of appointees in the country is gone. Courage has been injected into the system and there is no ambivalence in action or ambiguity in language. Fraudulent fuel subsidy is gone. Rotten Emefiele is rotting behind bars. Shifty service chiefs set aside. A new Nigeria is resurging with Renewed Hope. Surely Ribadu has the character and pedigree to coordinate the security architecture to make Nigeria safe again,” Obun said.
