Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Say Bichi’s Appointment Exposes Buhari’s Nepotism

Ololade Adeyanju/

 

Southern and Middle leaders have described the appointment of new Director-General for the State Security Service by President Muhammadu Buhari as a “vote-of-no-confidence in One Nigeria”.

In a statement jointly signed by Chief Edwin Clark (South-South), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South-West), Chief John Nwodo (South-East) and Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle-Belt), the elder statesmen said the appointment of Yusuf Bichi as DG SSS had exposed the rabid nepotism of the President.

The statement further reads: “The outright disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country which President Buhari has become well known for was taken to a new height this evening with the removal of the Acting DG of DSS, Mr Matthew Seiyefa and replacement with Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano.

“The I-don’t-care and in-your-face attitude of the President in restoring Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and 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 per cent and 5 per cent’.

“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 the line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa are from our findings are all southerners which may explain why the President picked a man who 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 for the remainder of his first term.

“Lastly we ask Mr President: Are we still one county?”

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