By Emeka Alex Duru
Two leaked documents in quick succession, lend weight to fears in some quarters of deep cracks in the Muhammadu Buhari presidency. They also add to the suspicion that the President may not actually be in charge of developments around him.
In the first memo, the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Mungono, accused the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Abba Kyari, of giving directives to Service Chiefs without his knowledge, a situation he said has worsened Nigeria’s security situation. He asked the Service Chiefs to desist from doing so.
“Chief of Staff to the president is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country. 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 and defence efforts, but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve,” Munguno said in the memo.
The second document showed how the Monguno, tackled Kyari, for allegedly overriding a previous directive of the president in a contract to procure equipment for the police from the United Arab Emirates.
In the December 9, 2019 letter that was addressed to the Police Affairs Minister and Police Inspector-General, Monguno, described Kyari’s action as “reckless and irresponsible”, warning that it was capable of ridiculing Nigeria as an unserious nation before a reliable international partner. Monguno warned in the letter that Kyari has been getting away with disregarding presidential orders to impose his own decisions — even though he had no constitutional power to issue directives on matters bordering on security.
Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media, Garba Shehu, neither picked nor returned calls from our Reporter seeking to confirm or refute the documents published by an online medium, PREMIUM TIMES. He also did not reply to a text message on the subject. His colleague, Femi Adesina, has also kept mum on the matter, as he has not reacted to the story using his tweeter or Facebook account as he usually does. Not even Buhari has waded in to clear the air on the matters.
Nigerians demand explanation
official of the Lagos state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who volunteered comments on the development, reasoned that the disclosures by the NSA against the CoS, indicate a divided presidency, adding that it casts a slur on the touted anti-corruption agenda of the administration. “This is akin to washing our dirty linen in the public. It does not tell good of the Buhari administration. It indicates absence of harmony and coordination in the affairs of the nation. It is shameful and does us no good”, he fumed on condition of anonymity.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has joined many Nigerians asking the President to speak or act on the contending issues.
By Wednesday, February 19, 2020, the Presidency had not reacted to the reacted to the raging issues, thus, fueling insinuations that they may have been swept under the carpet. But no matter how it turns out, the Monguno – Kyari face-off, would not be the first time key officials of the presidency are dancing naked in the public.
Presidency at war with self
Earlier in the year, the Minister for Power, Sale Mamman, issued a statement that many considered a subtle indictment on his predecessor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Aaron Artimas, Mamman who had come under criticism for shoddy personnel changes in the rural electrification agency, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company and what had been termed a sub-par performance thus far as power minister, wondered why was being attacked for trying to improve a sector those before him couldn’t, even after billions of Naira were pumped into the sector.
“All right thinking Nigerians are aware that since assuming power in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari has poured billions of Naira and attracted huge investments into the power sector with the aim of improving the generation and distribution of electricity to Nigerians.
“Nigerians should be asking why there was not much improvement in the sector after such concerted efforts by the government and not to encourage “wailers” to sulk over public officers who had been in the ministry for over four years without tangible results”, the Minister stated. Though he did not mention Fashola, many saw the attack as being directed at him.
In another instance, the Senate had turned down the request for the confirmation of the appointment of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on account of uncomplimentary report on him by the Department of State Security (DSS).
In all instances, the officials involved, were appointees who report to the President. Their inability to function seamlessly, raises concern on the harmony in the presidency. It also adds weight to allegations by critics on the president not being actually in charge of the administration. Seen from whatever angle, the discordant tones in the president, is considered a major factor in the perceived poor performance profile of the Buhari administration.