Nigerians skeptical as NIA DG Abubakar says he resigned due to ‘personal issues‘
By Emma Ogbuehi
As speculations continue to fester on why the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, tendered his resignation on Saturday after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, the security chieftain has given reason for his action.
Abubakar, in a move that took Nigerians by surprise, tendered his resignation to President Tinubu on Saturday.
Tinubu also promptly accepted the resignation, a move that has raised a lot of eyebrows.
He was led to Aso Rock by the National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
But not many Nigerians are convinced by his explanation.
Some who spoke to TheNiche insist that the dramatic nature of the resignation is an indication that it was not voluntary.
“I suspect that he was asked to resign. Perhaps, there is a feeling in Aso Rock that he is not as attuned to the repressive antics of the government as the Director General of the DSS or the Inspector General of Police who have shown that they are willing to go to any extent to please the President,” said one citizen who pleaded anonymity.
Yet, another quipped, “They have to tell us why he resigned. It is not normal . There must be a reason. I am sure they have found out something and want to give him a soft landing.”
However, Abubakar has dismissed such apprehensions as unfounded.
Explaining why he resigned, the former NIA DG cited personal and family issues without elaborating even as he insisted it was a routine thing for him to brief the president from time to time.
The ex-NIA Chief thanked the President for allowing him to serve for extra 15 months under his watch.
When asked why he resigned, Abubakar told journalists, “There are quite a number of reasons one will do that. Some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue.
“I discussed with Mr. President, he understood very well, and I promised to remain steadfast with issues and the security situations of the country.”
He continued, “It’s a routine thing, from time to time, to brief Mr. President on security issues, and today is no exception.
“After the briefing, I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation.
“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare; to have the opportunity to serve two Presidents at a stretch. So I thanked him very well, and I promised to remain professionally dedicated to our country.”
When asked about the President’s reaction to his resignation, Abubakar declined to answer in clear terms saying such details are better revealed by the President himself or the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, in whose company he arrived at the Villa.
“I think it’s not for me to say this. I’ll be breaching protocol. But maybe the NSA and or Mr. President himself will say it.
“But what I can tell you is that I’m very grateful for the opportunity that the President gave me to serve the country and his leadership; the encouragement I got, the confidence he had in me and in my service, the opportunity to listen to me, to read briefing notes and advice and so on.
“I think this, for me, is everything and I have had the opportunity to mentor officers and staff for all the period I have been DG. This is the seventh year by the way, and the opportunity to mentor younger officers to come up, and now we have a lot of officers who can do this job excellently well.“
Abubakar was first appointed DG of the NIA in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.
Until his appointment, he was Senior Special Assistant to the former President on International Affairs/International Relations.
The National Intelligence Agency was founded 38 years ago on June 5, 1986.
Fulfilling one of the promises he made in his first national address as military president, Ibrahim Babangida in June 1986 issued Decree Number 19, dissolving the National Security Organization (NSO) and restructuring Nigeria’s security services into three separate entities under the Office of the Co-Coordinator of National Security namely: State Security Service (SSS) – responsible for domestic intelligence; National Intelligence Agency (NIA) – responsible for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) – responsible for military intelligence.
Ahmed Rufai Abubakar who had been in office since January 10, 2018 was the ninth DG of the Agency.
Chief Albert K. Horsfall was the first DG and served between 1986 and 1990, followed by retired Brigadier General Haliru Akilu (1990–1993), Ambassador Zakari Y. Ibrahim (1993–1998), Ambassador Godfrey B. Preware (1998–1999); Ambassador Uche O. Okeke (1999–2007); Ambassador Emmanuel E. Imohe (2007 – September 2009), Ambassador Olaniyi Oladeji (September 2009 – October 2013) and Ambassador Ayo Oke (November 7, 2013 – October 2017).