INSECURITY: THE CONFESSION OF GEN MOGUNO -BY FRIDAY EKPO

National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (retd.).

The question of whether President Mohammadu Buhari has the ability and capacity to discharge his primary function as the President and Commander in Chief was again brought to the fore on the floor of the Senate on 1 June, 2018. This came by way of a confessional statement made by no less a personality than the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (retd.). He blamed the heightened insecurity in the land on insubordination of the Security Chiefs and lack of central coordination of the national security apparatus. He did not blame it on the lack of equipment to fight but on true leadership that moves men to achieve result.

This blame must squarely be put on the door step of the President who manifestly cares less about instilling discipline among his appointees most especially, among the Security Chiefs.

Barely two months ago, the entire nation was shocked to hear President Buhari saying in Markudi that he didn’t that the IGP flouted his directive to go to Benue to check the carnage that was a daily affair. Everyone had expected an immediate sack or a reprimand of such an IG, but that never happened.

If an NSA can boldly say that

insubordination is the cause of rising

insecurity will it be hard to know

that this President has been unable

to assert his authority over the service

Chiefs he appointed?

In December 2016, when Buhari first sent Magu to the Senate for confirmation as the Chairman of EFCC, it could be recalled that it was the Directorate of State Services (DSS) that sent an adverse report that stalled Magu’s confirmation. This was repeated on 15 March, 2017 when Magu reappeared before the Senate. Yet the President, who is in charge of both the EFCC and DSS neither accepted the negative report of DSS against Magu, nor moved against the D.G of DSS for sending that negative report against a nominee in whom he is well pleased.

The Constitution which President Buhari swore to defend says that, the primary function of government is the welfare and security of the citizens. In fact that is the reason for the existence of government anywhere in the world. It is not fighting corruption; for that is a peripheral function.

On this plank, can anyone say the President has done well? If anyone fails all his core courses, can elective ones see him through school? These are questions Buhari’s foot soldiers must answer.

If an NSA can boldly say that, insubordination is the cause of rising insecurity will it be hard to know that this President has been unable to assert his authority over the service Chiefs he appointed?

Recall that both his party men and opposition have overtime called on the President to reshuffle his cabinet and change the Service Chiefs in order to infuse new ideas and fresh energy into governance, but that had been rebuffed by him. It is only in this administration that, inter service rivalries are commonplace and their boss keeps looking elsewhere.

I have said before now that, a President who is quick to identify a problem but at a total loss on pointing to the solution is not fit to be President. It is only when security of lives is guaranteed, that food security can be guaranteed. And then corruption can be fought in an atmosphere devoid of harm.

For now, I beg to borrow these words from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “Security has given way to conspiracy.”

How sad?

-Friday Ekpo is a Lagos based good governance advocate and social affairs commentator.