Law, order and NSA – TheNigerialawyer

By Babatunde Ayankunle

THE biggest challenge before the country is insecurity. Bandits,
kidnappers and insurgents have seized the nation by its throat,
with security agencies seemingly helpless.

Nowhere is safe, whether South, East, North or West. Political
and traditional leaders in these places are worried.

During a visit by some southern traditional rulers, President
Muhammadu Buhari acknowledged their concerns and promised to do
something about the security architecture.

Ahead of the inauguration of his cabinet on August 21, tongues
are wagging on who will become the National Security Adviser (NSA)
so as to address the crucial issue of law and order.

To analysts, whoever is so appointed should have the capacity to
do the job. Names are already being bandied as to who can occupy
the exalted seat.

They include the NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), former
Interior Minister Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), Maj.-Gen.
S. D. Aliyu (retd), and Ambassador Ahmed Rufai.

The President has been quiet on Monguno whose name keeps popping
up as a frontrunner for the job, especially within military
circle.

Appointed as NSA on July 13, 2015, to replace Dasuki Sambo,
Monguno was, before his retirement in 2013, Chief of Defence
Intelligence Agency (DIA), from July 2009 to 2011. His last
assignment in the army was Commander, Training and Doctrine Command
(TRADOC), from January to September 2013.

As NSA, Monguno witnessed the worst of terrorist battles when
his village in Borno State was temporarily captured by Boko Haram.
But, the village was retaken, within days, in coordinated air and
ground attacks.

At a time when Nigeria’s fragile unity is on the brink,
Monguno’s ability to speak the country’s three major languages,
Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa fluently, as well as Idoma, isc a plus.

Unlike the Service chiefs, Monguno’s work is unseen, because it
is strategic. The Office of NSA coordinates security matters for
the Office of the President. These include all the military
formations, purchase of military hardware, security and safety of
Nigerians both within and outside the country, curtailing smuggling
at the borders. The work of the office is enormous..

For Dambazau, the immediate past Interior Minister, was Chief of
Army Staff between 2008 and 2010. He held command and staff
positions before he became army chief in 2008.

Former Lagos State military administrator and chairman,
Committee on Drug Abuse Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (retd) is
reported to be relying on his relationship with close allies to the
President to get the top job.

Aliyu said to be on good terms with former Vice President
Abubakar Atiku, is also being tipped for the NSA office.

Buratai, according to pundits, may be considered for the job, if
he quits as army chief. There have been talks of his having stayed
too long in office. Shortly after his appointment, he survived
allegations of having illegally acquired a property in Dubai.

Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Air Vice Marshall (AVM)
Mohammed Saliu Usman is another contender for the job.

National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director Ahmed Rufa’i was
secretary to the Babagana Kingibe Committee which reviewed findings
of the Vice President’s committee on the about $43 million found by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Committee (EFCC) in an apartment
belonging to wife of a former NIA Director-General.

Lawal Daura, a former Department of State Service (DSS)
Director-General, is believed to have the President’s ears. He was
asked to go after masked DSS operatives laid siege to the National
Assembly complex and prevented lawmakers and civil servants from
entering the building.

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