There has been disquiet at the presidency over who should coordinate security strategic meetings and operations in the country. This is as the supremacy battle between the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari has made it to the public domain.
The two have allegedly been trying to manage the crisis until a circular from the Office of the NSA, which became public on Monday, accused the CoS of hijacking the coordination of security leadership of the country, a role administratively assigned to his office.
According to Monguno, this development has created confusion, lack of direction and his outright sidelining in the scheme of things when it comes to the strategic decisions in national security operations.
Read also: CJN Muhammad Heads 7-man Panel to Review Bayelsa, Imo Verdicts Tuesday
According to him, contrary to protocols, Kyari has been convening and chairing meetings with heads of defence, security and intelligence agencies with their supervising Ministers in attendance.
The NSA, in a circular dated December 9, 2019, entitled: ‘Disruption of National Framework by Unwarranted Meddlesomeness,’ accused Kyari of usurping his powers and those of President Buhari.
Monguno, in the circular copied to Kyari, all Service, Intelligence and Security Chiefs, the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior and Police Affairs, accused Kyari of authoring two circulars on September 13 and November 26, 2019 respectively, with contents and directives which were allegedly at variance with President Buhari’s orders.
He claimed that what Kyari is doing is an aberration as he is not in any position to preside over national security meetings nor is he competent enough to determine and manage the nation’s security architecture and trajectory.
Monguno warned Kyari to desist from issuing directives on security matters and directed the concerned security and Intelligence Chiefs as well as the Ministers to follow the established line of authority in national security coordination by the President through the NSA.
Part of the letter read: “References A and B were sent in response to the request for Presidential intervention to sustain Internal Security operations of the police within the shortest possible time. However, the contents of the 2 references were in variance with Mr President’s verbal, directives. Consequently, ONSA scrutinized the documents further and sought clarification from Mr President who has directed that Reference B be disregarded by all parties as it was sent without his endorsement.
“While it is expected that all Heads of Security agencies, having spent many years in service would understand the means of passing directives from the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it may be necessary to remind all, in the face of glaring breaches to that procedure. For clarification, other than direct verbal directives from the President, written directives ’emanating from Mr President would be conveyed with a copy of his manuscript directive or at minimum, bear his signature.
“Additionally, Mr President may convey directives to the Heads of defence and security apparatus through the NSA who Intelligence Community Committee, Joint Intelligence Board and General Security Appraisal Committee on behalf of the President and supervising Ministers of defence and security agencies.
“It should be noted that the Chief of Staff to the President does not direct the security apparatus of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his job as it relates to security stops at conveying Mr. President’s written directives.
“Similarly, you are reminded that the Chief of Staff to the President is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn in an oath of defending the country. As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with Service Chiefs and Heads of security organisations as well as Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising Ministers are a violation of the constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr President. Such acts and continuous meddlesomeness by the Chief of Staff have not only ruptured our security and defence efforts, but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve.
“As professionals, you are aware that the security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria requires concerted and centralized effort taking into account internal, external and diplomatic factors. It is therefore detrimental to our collective security that the Chief of Staff who is a on-supervising minister holds meetings with diplomats, security Chiefs and heads of agencies.
“Pursuant to the foregoing, you are by this letter directed to desist from these illegal acts that serve nothing but the continuous undermining of our national security framework. Any breach-of this directive will attract the displeasure of Mr President”, it noted.
