These are interesting times in Nigeria. What could have prompted the clinking of glasses by the staff of the Department of Secret Service (DSS) at the DG’s exit last Monday? There must be more to it than meets the eye.
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara is no longer a political orphan; he left the orphanage last week. I hope you are aware? If you were not, you need not to bother. We are here with ‘the how’ of the gist. The drama called fuel scarcity has continued across Nigeria, while the definite date of commencement of operation at the Port Harcourt Refinery has remained indeterminate. The more you look, the less you see! It is a curious mix here-large crude producer, yet no petrol for local consumption!
The clinking of glasses at DSS office
In what seemed a curious case of children celebrating the exit of their strict father, staff of the Department of Secret Service (DSS) last Monday engaged in wild jubilation over their boss’ replacement.
Some other videos that trended on social media platforms showed officials of the agency throwing a party, rejoicing over the Director-General, Yusuf Bichi’s, replacement.
It is difficult to conclude that the celebration of Bichi’s exit was a testimonial of his high-handedness at the Agency; some have even argued that it could mean that the man prevented the staff from certain unwholesome/corrupt practices, hence the clinking of glasses.
A Nigerian with the X (formerly twitter) handle #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, said: “I don’t know or give a crap about the DSS DG but I know when civil servants celebrate the replacement of a leader, it’s most likely that leader didn’t allow nonsense/corruption from them. Nigerian civil servants are multiple levels worse than the politicians.”
President Bola Tinubu had last Monday announced the replacement of the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, and the DG of the DSS, Bichi.
Abubakar had earlier on Saturday announced his resignation to journalists at the State House, citing personal and family reasons for his resignation.
Beyond the celebration about Bichi’s unceremonious exit, what should be of utmost concern to Nigerian is the state of the nation’s security and what his successor will do immediately to stem the ugly tide.
Read also: Tinubu appoints Mohammed DG NIA, Ajayi DG, DSS
Bichi’s exit would have achieved nothing if by this time next year, the country is still grappling with those failings at the DSS that claimed the man’s job.
Nigerians have been shell-shocked that despite the 21st Century gadgets available to the Nigerian security apparatus, simple crimes are not being nipped in the bud, and even after the commission of such crimes, the perpetrators are hardly unmasked.
Non-state actors appear to be calling the shots across the country under the nose of security agencies.
It would seem to many Nigerians that the security agencies put their heart to only the cases they have interest in, and achieve results.
It has continued to amaze Nigerians that kidnappers get away with their nefarious deeds without being trailed, let alone caught.
Today, many Nigerians only know the DSS as that wicked security agency that terrorises and tortures Nigerians than the good work that the Service does.
One Dr. Muhammadu, on his X (formerly twitter) account said: “Yusuf Magaji Bichi may have been an astute DG of the DSS, but the security situation in the country did not improve under his leadership. Terrorists continued to operate freely and engage on social media without being apprehended on many occasions!!!”
In the last one decade, Nigerians have seen many change of batons in the nation’s security hierarchy, but rather than the security situation improving, it has worsened almost irredeemably.
It is hoped that the appointment of Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as Bischi’s replacement, and Mohammed Mohammed taking over from Abubakar will see the annihilation of all the evil forces that have chased away indigenes from their native communities, forcefully occupied farmlands causing high food inflation; converted the nation’s highways to kidnap points and have succeeded in making interstate journeys dreadful.
The lasting celebration would be when the newly appointed apparatchiks have caused a complete turnaround in the nation’s war against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, secessionist agitations and other internal security challenges that have dragged the good name of Nigeria in the mud.
In case you have forgotten, the NIA is a security division tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations.
The SSS, also known as the DSS, is the primary domestic intelligence agency of Nigeria. It is primarily responsible for intelligence gathering within the country and for the protection of senior government officials, particularly the President and state governors.
Fubara leaves the orphanage!
The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara last week left the orphanage. He is no longer an orphan! For over one year, the governor operated as an orphan. He was somehow abandoned by his own very political family, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
His exit from the orphanage was confirmed when the Board of Trustees (BoT), the highest decision-making body of the PDP, led by its chairman, a former Senate president, Adolphus Wabara, paid him a visit in Port Harcourt.
I am sure you are aware that the governor had some time ago verbalised his frustration with his party and wondered why his political party should be treating him like an orphan.
Fubara was shocked that his party was watching the drama akimbo when the Rivers State chapter of the party was invaded and a new leader foisted on it by the Nyesom Wike camp. The party also maintained sealed lips as the former governor and some of his foot soldiers were trying to run a sitting governor out of town.
The governor had dropped the hint of his dissatisfaction with the PDP in June when he received the delegation from Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Fubara had pointedly told his guests that the PDP had failed the state.
“In our state today, we are no longer doing party. We are doing a movement; so, you don’t blame me if I don’t go to the side of the party too much. The party has failed us here. So, what we are doing here is to stand with our two legs on the soil of Rivers State, so that we can defend democracy,” he said.
Read also: PDP governors in Taraba, restate support for Fubara
In April, a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere had slammed the PDP apparatchiks for allegedly fraternising with Wike who has since declared allegiance for the ruling party at the detriment of their colleague in the same party- Fubara.
Perhaps, after watching the body language of certain leaders of the party, Fubara began to nurse the ambition of joining another party. And most probably too, it was this rumour of his possible exit that jolted the BoT members into making the visit.
Like everyone would expect, the governor told his visitors that he never planned to jump ship, and that he was firmly a PDP man.
Apparently emboldened by the BoT’s visit, the party’s Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) last Friday, threw its full weight behind Fubara. The forum restated its solid stance in support of the embattled governor, on the political crisis in the state.
The governors assured their readiness to engage the NWC of the party to revisit the congresses with a view to correcting the anomaly, while insisting that Governor Fubara must be allowed to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.
That was part of the governors’ decisions at the forum’s 4th regular monthly meeting in 2024 at Government House, Jalingo, Taraba State.
It is expected that going forward, Fubara would begin to enjoy the full camaraderie of the brotherhood in the umbrella association.
The fuel scarcity and the torture thereof
The Nigerian society is suffocating. Little wonder why many youths today think about leaving the country if such opportunity knocks. For close to two weeks now, many filling stations in many towns and cities across the country have not been selling petrol in the day. The few that manage to open their gate contend with long and windy queues of vehicles waiting to buy.
On many occasions, many of those that queue for the product do not get to buy because the stock would have ‘finished’ before it gets to their turn. Many filling stations seem to have struck an unholy deal with black marketers to sell to them only at night, when normal human beings must have retired to rest.
Read also: Lokpobiri urges NNPC to end fuel subsidy, curb smuggling
Whereas there is no petrol at the stations, around them are legions of keg-clutching hawkers who surround themselves with many full 50-litre jerry-cans of petrol, and they sell the product at cut-throat prices to desperate motorists. In some places, they sell a litre for N1200 (N6,000 for five litres).
There are reports from some parts of the country, where hoodlums have capitalised on the illicit black-market trade to rob people. As soon as unsuspecting motorists stop to buy, they unleash mayhem on such prospective buyers.
Some of the petrol hawkers are said to be mixing the product with other substances that affect vehicles’ engines. So, you are not even sure what you are buying out there.
The risk of fire outbreak is very high as hawkers run around with the fuel containers, seeking buyers. Some of the hawkers store these filled jerry-cans in their apartments to avoid them being stolen (now that petrol is gold in Nigeria). This increases the potential for fire incident that could consume a whole community.
The recent ban on petrol sale in jerry-can is not the solution as that has its numerous negative downsides.
Nigerians were told that, as soon as the subsidy was removed, the country would be fine. Today, the situation appears worse with government giving incoherent excuses.
The citizens cannot get petrol despite the fact that their country bears oil. Definite date of commencement of operation at the Port Harcourt Refinery has remained indeterminate; it has continued to shift, a clear sign that all is not well with the refinery.
People are losing a whole day at filling stations looking for petrol; several manhours are lost; it is not in an effort to get the product free, no, but to buy with their money at exorbitant price!
The flippant excuse that the cause of the scarcity was logistics makes it more insulting. The drama is becoming too much. No nation survives the way Nigeria is going about things.
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