Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Former Nigerian Army spokesman Brig.-Gen. Kukasheka Usman (rtd) spilled an untold story that shocked many Nigerians yesterday, revealing how ex-Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) was pressured to depose President Goodluck Jonathan following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.
Usman made the announcement at the 2022 Blueprint Newspapers Annual Public Lectures and Impact Series/Award in Abuja. He claimed Dambazau not only resisted pressure from people the former army spokesperson described as Nigeria’s enemies, but he also promised the international community, which became aware of the development, that he would not do so.
The revelation came as Dambazau proposed sweeping changes to the entire security sector following the 2023 general election.
In a related development, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni warned that no individual or collective interest was worth plunging the country into war over in order to win the upcoming election. Buni warned against hate speech, saying that Nigeria’s interests must always come first.
Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, also stated that those responsible for the country’s security crisis could not be trusted to find a long-term solution. Bello believes that with serious commitment, the security challenges can be successfully addressed in six months.
“One thing Nigerians do not know is that if we are counting champions of democracy in this country, there is no way you will not mention Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, and I will tell you why,” Usman said, recalling how Dambazau resisted pressure to overthrow the Jonathan government.
“When President Umar Yar’Adua was sick, he was the Chief of Army Staff, and I had the honor of being the public relations officer in the army chief’s office.” I had the honor of accompanying him on his move. We always moved together, and I was aware of it.
“Despite his prolific writing, he has yet to publish his memoir, and a portion of that memoir should be an expose of those people who undermined democracy in this country.”
“I say this with a heavy heart, because it was the same group of politicians who lobbied him to take over the government in an unconstitutional manner at the time.” We have the records, and with all due respect, when he began writing the memoir, I told him that he needed to mention the names of the individuals so that future generations will remember them for who they are.
“We are still dealing with that issue, and I know that the international community was concerned enough that they had to meet with him, where he promised not to take over the government.
“We still live with the flaks, and in some parts of the country, they call us women, because an opportunity to take over government came and we did not take it.” What am I getting at here? All of these issues that we are discussing lack focus on critical issues while discussing mundane issues; they are threatening the nation’s very corporate existence.
“When we visited 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna, people asked when the announcement about taking over government would be made.” I’m relieved that Gen. Akinyemi, the GOC of the 3rd Amoured Division (Jos), is still alive. You can inquire with him.
“A simple phone call to him to roll out the tanks and Gen. Dambazau would have been head of state, but he resisted that temptation simply because he cared about this nation and knows that democracy is the best form of government for this country.”
At the time of Yar’Adua’s death, Dambazau was accused of ordering troops to Airport Road, Abuja, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport without Jonathan’s permission. It was also claimed that Dambazau’s movement as army chief was once restricted to his residence by the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (rtd), due to his suspected “ambitious moves.”
Dambazau was later replaced while Jonathan was in the United States.
Dambazau proposed a drastic reform of the security sector following the 2023 election in a lecture titled “2023 Politics: National Security and Nigeria’s Stability” at the Blueprint Newspapers event.
“A significant part of security sector reforms is security governance, which focuses on strengthening the effectiveness of security institutions,” he says. One area where we must concentrate our efforts is emergency response planning and coordination.
“National emergency response must be robust and people-centered, leveraging the unique competencies and resources of each entity at all levels.” If we had an effective and integrated national emergency response system, the terrorists would not have had the audacity to carry out their Abuja-Kaduna train and Kuje prisons attacks, and even leave the scenes without leaving a trace after spending hours conducting their operations.
“The second area of focus, also related to our experience, is the identification, procurement, and acquisition procedures and processes for defense material needs.” Who is in charge of defense procurement? We are aware of the controversy surrounding allegations of diversion of funds intended for arms procurement for North-east operations by the Office of the NSA during former President Jonathan’s administration.
“As far as I am aware, the NSA office’s role in the defense procurement process is limited to issuing end-user certificates.” Isn’t defense procurement the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Defence? Or do the individual services have the authority not only to identify needs, but also to procure and acquire them? What are the processes and procedures in a democracy like ours?”
“Answers to these questions should provide clear guidelines that would streamline aspects of defense procurement for better transparency and accountability,” said the former army chief. Corruption and abuse thrive in the absence of adequate oversight, transparency, and accountability, undermining the armed forces’ capabilities.
“Misallocations, underutilization, and misapplication of civilian security agencies and personnel are issues of concern for security sector reforms. What informs the positioning of such a strategic border security agency to be under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, for example, aside from the revenue it generates for the government?
“Similarly, why should a public safety agency, the Federal Road Safety Corps, be overseen by the Office of the SGF when it clearly falls under the purview of the Ministry of Interior?” Or the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, a health security organization independent of the Ministry of Health? These are just some examples.”
With such misallocation of supervision and oversight, he stated, “we cannot guarantee effective and efficient performance, nor can we guarantee accountability and transparency.”
Dambazau stated that the police are both underutilized and misused, emphasizing that this situation makes efficient law enforcement difficult.
“With a strength of about 400,000, a significant percentage is deployed for private security for individuals, organizations, and institutions,” he explained of the Nigeria Police.
“The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is the best example of an underutilized agency, and they could serve the same purpose as the US National Guard, creating a force between the military and the police.”
“Had my push for the establishment of the Agro Rangers unit in the Corps, as then Minister of Interior, been funded to take off, most of the attacks on farmers and cattle rustling would have been checked, thereby protecting our food security.”
“As patriots with the zeal to ensure Nigeria’s unity, there is no election or interest of any single individual that is worth sending Nigeria to war,” said Buni, the event’s chairman.
He stated that the theme, “2023 Politics, National Security, and Nigeria’s Stability,” was appropriate in light of the security threats that usually accompany national elections as well as the country’s existing security challenges.
“The success or failure of the 2023 elections is entirely dependent on us, the politicians, political parties, candidates, and their supporters, and, of course, the political umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Yobe State Governor said.
“The need for peace in order to conduct elections and have good governance and development cannot be overstated,” he added. As a result, it becomes clear that all of us must make sacrifices and prioritize national interests over personal interests in order to hold a free and peaceful election in 2023.”
Buni stated that Nigeria had many unfortunate events under various regimes, ranging from the civil war to ethno-religious conflicts, bloody border clashes, and, most recently, the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and secessionist pressures.
He stated that these conflicts have robbed the country of rich and valuable human and material resources, emphasizing that Nigeria cannot afford any more such clashes.
“Therefore, for us to succeed, we must, as a deliberate policy, avoid hate politics and the promotion of religious and ethnic sentiments that are gradually eating deep into the fabric of our nationhood,” Buni said.
“The government, in collaboration with stakeholders, should raise the necessary awareness among our supporters and the general public in Nigeria to condemn and discourage inciting propaganda in order to ensure a peaceful and successful election in 2023.”
The governor stated that Dambazau’s selection as the main lecturer on the topic of discussion was most appropriate because he was an accomplished and brilliant professional.
In his remarks, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Chairman and CEO of Blueprint Newspapers Limited, urged the federal government to do more to protect lives and property across the country.
The Kakaaki Nupe, who praised all security agencies in the country, called for collaboration between the government and the people to combat insecurity.
“I, therefore, take this opportunity to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, on whose shoulders our national security rests, to do more to protect citizens’ lives from terrorists, bandits, and other militias that are rampaging through our cities, forests, and creeks,” he said. At all costs, we must overcome our security challenges. Critically, we must not let the issue of insecurity define the 2023 debates.”
