When Yemi Osinbajo, then Acting President (when his principal, Muhammadun Buhari was outside the country), kicked the backside of Lawal Daura, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), four square, out of service, not a few Nigerians received the development with derision. Many would have thought that on his return, Buhari would reverse the sack. It was actually the handiwork of lobbyists who went as far as London to persuade the President.
How wrong! Buhari has now foreclosed the reinstatement of Daura, notwithstanding that he bears the name of the Nigerian leader’s place of birth.
The battle has, according to The Nation, since shifted to the Presidency, over the search for a new Director-General. Some favour the retention of the office in the North. Many want acting DG Mathew Seiyefa to be confirmed to prove a point that the President has a national outlook. The argument for Seiyefa is borne out of his having less than one year to retire. He has spent 34 years in service.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The forces pushing for Daura’s reinstatement have lost the battle because the President has foreclosed his return.
“The President has no plans to bring back Daura under any guise. He believes this administration is one and will not overrule his deputy. He is a man of discipline and not an ethnic bigot.
“What happened is that some ministers, a few kitchen cabinet members and influential people close to the President sneaked into London to meet with Buhari to overturn Daura’s sack.
“They alleged that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo sacked Daura before informing the President who was on vacation, said the source, who added:
“They were not aware that the President and the Vice President had discussed the fate of Daura and some security chiefs at least two weeks before the President proceeded on vacation in London. The two leaders had agreed on the need to effect a few changes.
“Osinbajo acted in line with the template set by his boss and acted appropriately.”
It was leaent that while in London, “a former Head of State and a minister in the kitchen cabinet advised the President to ignore these influential forces pushing for Daura’s return in view of the democratic mileage the administration scored with his removal after the unauthorised invasion of the National Assembly by hooded DSS operatives.
“The ex-Head of State warned on the diplomatic and international implications of reinstating Daura. The Minister also minced no words in confronting those who wanted the ex-DG back in office.”
A source in government also gave insights into Daura’s removal.
The source said “while it is true that the Vice President sacked Daura before informing the President, it was in line with the earlier decision by the two leaders to tinker with the security apparatchik.
“There was a template which the President would have worked on after the vacation which Osinbajo implemented. Osinbajo informed the President of the action he took and the President endorsed it because the Presidency is one.”
“So, when Daura acted against democratic norms, he was invited to the Presidential Villa by the Acting President. While seated in a part of Osinbajo’s office, waiting to see the VP, his removal.
“He was then escorted out of the back exit of the VP’s wing to a safe house for debriefing. There were no altercations in any manner between the VP and Daura.”
On the sucession matter, a security source said: “It is either the retention of Seiyefa or appointment of a new person as the substantive DG. For Seiyefa, who has less than a year left in service, this is the second time, he will be closer to clinching the job.”
Seiyefa In 2010, he lost to former DG Ita Ekpenyong, who was said to have been preferred by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Some “forces” are said to be pushing for a northern candidate to succeed Daura, but others in the kitchen cabinet have made a strong case for Seiyefa to prove a point that Buhari has a national character contrary to the accusation by some politicians that he is an ethnic bigot.
“ Seiyefa and three other Deputy Directors-General in the DSS are eminently qualified for the job. But Seiyefa is the most senior and for a service where hierarchy matters, he is first among equals,” the source said, noting however that “if Buhari goes out of the service to pick a new DG, it might lead to his exit and that of other three Deputy Directors-General”. (The Nation)
