The Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum has warned against a looming plot by some Presidency officials allegedly led by Kyari, to remove Seyeifa from office.
The forum said this on Sunday in a statement co-signed by its spokespersons, Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South), Prof. Chigozie Ogbu (South-East) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
The group stated that it would have ignored the reported plan to remove Seyeifa “but for the clannishness, sectional proclivity and exclusive handling of the security architecture of the country by President Buhari in the last three years.”
The forum added, “He (Buhari) had defied all protestations from all well-meaning Nigerians in making appointments into all key and sensitive security positions in sectional and kith-and-kin affairs in a very insensitive and ‘you-can-do-your-worse-manner’ that until the recent sacking of Lawal Daura, 16 out of 17 service chiefs were from his corner of the country.”
The SMBLF noted that the President had not commented on the sack of the former DG of DSS since he returned from his London vacation, stressing that this confirmed the speculation that he was not happy with Daura’s removal.
The group asked the President to prevail on Kyari and stop him from removing Seyeifa, warning that there would be consequences if the South-West and South-South regions were marginalized in the DSS leadership hierarchy.
“The rest of the country has lived with the insensitivity of Mr. President in handling the security architecture in the last three years with equanimity.
“It may be necessary not to overstretch it by removing the acting DG and stopping the professional reorganization in the DSS because it is not in tandem with the ethnic domination script of Mr. President. It may turn out the proverbial last straw,” SMBLF warned.
The possibility of Daura’s return
It was learned that the cabal was also working on the possibility of bringing back the sacked DG.
However, there were speculations that some members of the cabal felt that his return might bring bad blood between President Buhari and Osinbajo.
“How can we reinstate him when he was removed by the acting President, who took the action after reportedly seeking the approval of the President,?” a senior Presidency source said.
Besides, he said that recalling Daura might send the wrong signal to both local and international communities that there was a division in the Presidency.
“Elections are also coming. If we present a picture of a divided house to Nigerians and the international community, we know the opposition will cash in on it to make strong statements,” the source added.
Those shortlisted for replacement
In the event that the plan to restate Daura fails, one of our correspondents gathered that the cabal had perfected a plan to present some people for the position.
It was gathered that one of those on their list included Alhaji A. Kabir, who was once an acting Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund. Kabir is also a retired DSS Officer.
It was also gathered that the cabal had penciled up the name of the Minister of Internal Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.).
The former army chief played a vital role in the emergence of Buhari in 2015.
Dambazau was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan over the role he played in the deployment of troops and the smuggling of the then President, Umaru Yar’dua from overseas before he eventually died.
It was also learned that Bassey Eteng is also being considered, in case there were complaints against appointing another northerner for the sensitive position.
It was gathered that both Kyari and Abubakar were playing a vital role in the conspiracy to either bring back Daura or get a suitable replacement.
Authoritative sources said that four other officers were also working with both Kyari and Abubakar in the plot.
The officers (names withheld) are said not to be comfortable with the reforms initiated by Seiyefa since he assumed office.
Another said that the activities of the cabal in the last few days had made working in the service worrisome in the last few weeks.
He said that officers and operatives were worried that professionalism was being eroded in the service.
The source said, “There is serious tension in the service now. Personnel is unhappy that the Chief of Staff to the President is now trying to run the service by intimidating the acting DG, thereby rubbishing the VP, who sacked the former DG.
“What the COS and CO are trying to cover are many. They are holding brief for the sacked DG.” With Punch
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