Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Kick As Buhari Appoints Northerner As New DSS Boss

Southern and Middle Belt Leaders have kicked against the removal of the Acting DG of DSS, Mr. Matthew Seiyefa, who was replaced with Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The leaders said the action of the President was an outright disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country.

They maintained that it was an “I-don’t-care and in-your-face attitude” for the President to restore Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from “his corner of the country”.

They said it was a clear demonstration of the fact that Buhari is no more than a sectional leader who doesn’t care about the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country.

Since 1960, Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional, narrow, parochial and tribalistic like the current President who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into “97 % and 5%, the leaders affirmed.

Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark signed the statement which was obtained by BigPen Online on Thursday, for the South South, Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South West), Chief John Nwodo, (South East) while Dr. Bitrus Pogu, (Middle Belt).

The statement read: “We have  looked critically at the profiles of the Acting DG who was removed and the one Buhari just appointed and it is crystal clear that Bichi does not come with any experience close to that of Seiyefa.

“The only qualification for this appointment is therefore only the rabid nepotism of the President which has seen him always masking personal and sectional interest as “national interest.”

“Besides, Bichi is an out-of-the-system man drafted by Mr. Lawan Daura in the days of his nepotism rule at the DSS.

“The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa, from our findings, are all southerners which may explain why the President picked a man who has already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity .

“That the President went ahead to deep himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity, cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.

“We reject this appointment and we do not shy in telling Mr President that he no longer pretends that the country is one under him.

“In the last few days, there have been fears coming from the international community about the dangers that would come the way of  Nigeria if Mr. President returns for another term. With his latest action, we add that the country is not safe in the remainder of his first term.

Recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved with effect from the 14th of September, the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc), as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Bichi, according to a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.

The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.

Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

He also served as Director at State Service Academy.