By Gbenga Osinaike
A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa has described the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Director General of the Department of State Service as a demonstration of President Mohammadu Buhari’s disregard for the sensibilities of Nigerians.
Adegboruwa who is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God was of the view that the action of the president clearly showed that he was not bothered about what people think about him and his government.
Buhari had on Thursday announced Bichi as the new boss of the DSS. He is expected to take over immediately from the Acting DG, Mr. Mathew Seiyefa an indigene of Bayelsa who has barely one year to retire from the service of the DSS.
It would be recalled that Seiyefa was appointed when Lawal Daura who held forte in the agency was dismissed on August 7 by Vice President Yemi Osibajo while in acting capacity as the president.
Daura’s dismissal was not unconnected with the role he allegedly played in the ignominious invasion of the National Assembly by officers of the DSS.
Adegboruwa however noted in a telephone chat with Church Times that President Buhari’s latest appointment shows he has little regard for the principles of Federal Character enshrined in section 14 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.
He observed that virtually all the heads of the security agencies are from the same region a development he noted is dangerous for Nigeria’s democracy.
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu however in a statement described the new substantive DG of DSS as a core operative of the secret service.
The statement read, “President Buhari has approved with effect from the 14th of September, the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc), as new Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS). The appointee is a core Secret Service operative.
“He attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.
“The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS.
“Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
“The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.
“In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.
“He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance. “He also served as Director at State Service Academy.
“Mr Bichi is married and with children.”