Perhaps in line with
retired General TY Danjuma's
advice,Nigeria's Acting President
Goodluck Jonathan has taken a bold step
to strengthen his government by
appointing General Aliyu Gusau as
National Security Adviser,NSA.Danjuma
head of Jonathan's advisory committee
told him to act fast and aggresively
inorder not to lose the people's
goodwill
Gusau replaces Maj-General
Sarki Muktar who was today sacked by
Jonathan.This move may
indicate that Jonathan was not
satisfied with national security under
Mukhtar.The sack comes a day after
renewed fighting in neighbouring
villages of Jos left over 400 people
dead.
General Gusau is an
old hand .He was the the NSA during the
regime of ex President Olusegun
Obasanjo.In fact, he was one of the four
generals who influenced the rise
of Obasanjo from prison to
presidency.Others included Generals
Ibrahim Babangida,Abdulsalami Abubakar
and Danjuma.Somehow, they all fell out
with Obasanjp before the end of his
second term.
Ironically, Jonathan
whom many had thought would be
Obasanjo's boy has moved swiftly perhaps
to keep Obasanjo in check.With Danjuma
and Gusau now with the acting president
those who had thought Obasanjo would
control Jonathan may have to reexamine
their position hence-forth.
Gusau's attempt to
become president in 2007 was
unsuccessful as Obasanjo anointed Umaru
YarAdua over and above every other
contestant.Babangida felt betrayed as he
was virtually forced out of the 2007
race.
Now Gusau has
another opportunity to serve the nation
in the security sector where he is
viewed as a master of the
game.There may however be interesting
times ahead as Gusau's appointment comes
at a time IBB is believed to be gearing
up to joint the 2011 presidential
race.How events will eventually shape up
remains unclear now.
The statement sacking
Muktar was read by Ima Niboro,the SSA
media to the acting president thus:''The
Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan, has appointed Lt. Gen. Aliyu
Gusau (Rtd), as National Security
Adviser.He replaces Maj. Gen. Sarki
Mukhtar (Rtd).'Dr. Jonathan thanked the
outgoing NSA for his services to the
nation and the present administration,
and wished him well in his future
endeavours.''
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