The National
Security Adviser, Maj.Gen, Babagana Monguno, has accused President Muhammadu
Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, of undue interference on national security
matters.
Consequently, he fired a warning memo to all
Service Chiefs to desist from taking further directives from Kyari, according
to reports.
The report further
credited Monguno as having said that Kyari’s directives to Service Chiefs were
sometimes issued without the knowledge much less approval of the president, a
practice he reportedly claimed has added to government’s failure to contain
insecurity.
“Chief of Staff to the President is not a
presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the
country,” Monguno reportedly said in his December 9, 2019 letter.
“As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with Service Chiefs and heads of security organisations as well as ambassadors and high commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising ministers are a violation of the Constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr President. “Such acts and continues meddlesomeness by Chief of Staff have not only ruptured our security an defence efforts, but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve.”
Monguno’s letter
comes as insecurity returns to centre stage as a major cause for worry among
Nigerians.
Violent attacks linked to bandits, kidnappers,
armed robbers and vandals have continued to claim multiple lives and properties
across the country.
The president has repeatedly promised to curb the crises, many of which he met in office, but has largely failed like his predecessors.
Security experts,
opposition and Federal lawmakers have responded by advising the president to
fire his Service Chiefs.
The Service Chiefs have been unable to rein in
Boko Haram insurgents since 2015 when Buhari named them to take charge of
various arms of the nation’s security architecture.
While previously held swathes of land have been taken back from terrorists, deadly attacks on civilians and military targets have worsened since 2018.
The Chief of Army
Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, said in recent media interviews that the military
has degraded insurgents.
It is believed that the fresh memo indicates
how Kyari has helped in keeping the Service Chiefs in office despite overwhelming
call for their removal.
It also underscores the frustration faced by
Monguno and others who found Kyari’s influence over the president too
domineering for national benefit.
- Media Report