DSS DG: Buhari has the right to appoint whoever he wants —Obono-Obla… Read details here

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L-R: Matthew Seyeife, Yusuf Bichi, Muhammadu Buhari and LaqaL Daura 
Nyok|15 September 2018 
In an attempt to justify the appointment of the new Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) popularly called State Security Service (SSS), Mr the Special Adviser to the President on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla has said Mr Muhammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the right to appoint whoever he wants NegroidHaven has confirmed. 
However, Obono-Obla who said it was not the rule to appoint the most senior DSS staff into office of DG, it would have been fair to allow him in Acting capacity for at least a year before replacing him. 
This rationalisation is coming on the heels of the controversial presidential appointment of retired Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi as against Mr Matthew Seyeife, the latter being next in line in hierarchy and capacity following the sack of Mr Lawal Daura. 

According to Obono-Obla, ‘The President has the right to appoint whoever he wants. My argument rather is that the fact that Matthew is the most senior official at DSS as at the time Osinbajo appointed him, it means he grew through the ranks.

‘It is not the rule but it is the norm that if you appoint someone who has spent his entire career in an establishment like Matthews did, at least for the sake of honor allow him stay in acting position for at least one year before replacing him. As I said it is not the rule but the norm. 
‘The actions of the president sends a wrong message going forward especially to career DSS officials who are loyal to his administration. You may think otherwise, I still respect your opinion, but this is my objective stand on the matter.’
However, international development consultant and political pundit based in the United States, Mr Princewill Odidi, has described the action of President Buhari as unfortunate. For him, actions like this polarise Nigeria the more. According to him, ‘For career civil servant who may have put in about 30 years in DSS rising to be the most senior officer, to elevate him to acting position and later calling a retired officer to replace him in less than 2 months in office goes beyond ethnic comfort, it is an attempt to destroy every virtue associated with patriotism, it is an assault to loyalty. 
‘Tell me one reason why any junior officer in DSS will continue to believe in Nigeria if all their efforts and or promotion can be interpreted or seen in terms of ethnic Biase? If we cannot trust ourselves why are we together as a nation? Buhari raises ethnic tension unnecessarily through his biased ethnic disposition. Buhari need to be told the truth, actions like these divide Nigeria more than helping to build it. 
‘If the only qualified person he could find to head DSS is someone who had retired, why then do we retire people? I think his action is unfortunate to say the least’. 
Recall that President Buhari on Thursday named Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services. The new DSS DG replaces Matthew Secretary from Bayelsa, who was appointed by then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, as Acting Director-General of DSS following the sacking of NASS-invading Lawal Daura

Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven