Southern and Middle Belt Forum leaders describe Buhari's appointment of new DSS boss as parochial tribalism

LEADERS of Nigeria's Southern and Middle belt Forum (SMBF) have condemned President Muhammadu Buhari's appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new director-general of the Department of State Security (DSS) calling it parochial tribalism.

Yesterday, the presidency announced that the Kano-born Mr Bichi will head the new agency, taking over from the acting director-general Matthew Seiyefa from Bayelsa State. Mr Seiyefa had been heading the DSS in an acting capacity since the sacking of its former boss Lawal Daura who was relieved of his duties for ordering his men to lay siege to the National Assembly.

However, President Buhari's decision to appoint another head of a security from the northwest of the country has attracted the ire of leaders from other parts of Nigeria. In a strong-worded statement signed by Chief Edwin Clark from the south-south, Chief Ayo Adebanjo from the southwest, Chief John Nwodo from the southeast and Dr Bitrus Pogu from the Middle Belt, the SMBF leaders said they reject the appointment of Mr Bichi.

Their statement read: "The outright disregard for the conditions precedent for a united Nigeria and an inclusive country which President Buhari has become well known for was taken to a new height this evening with the removal of  the acting director-general of the DSS, Mr Matthew Seiyefa and his replacement with Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano. The I-don't-care and in-your-face attitude of the president in restoring Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country .

"Since 1960, Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional ,narrow, parochial and tribalistic like the current president who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into 97 % and 5%.

We have  looked critically at the profiles of the acting director-general who was removed and the one Buhari just appointed and it is crystal clear that Bichi does not come with any experience close to that of Seiyefa.

"The only qualification for this appointment is therefore only the rabid nepotism of the president which has seen him always masking personal and sectional interest as national interest. Besides, Bichi is an out-of-the -system man drafted by Mr Lawan Daura in the days of his nepotism rule at the DSS.

"The next six most senior persons in line of succession at the DSS after Seiyefa are from our findings are all southerners which may explain why the president picked a man who already retired from the DSS to lead because of ethnic affinity . That the president went ahead to dip himself further into the cocoon of ethnic irredentism in making this insensitive appointment shows clearly that he does not care a hoot about the unity ,cohesion and oneness of Nigeria.

"We reject this appointment and we do not shy in telling Mr President that he no longer pretends that the country is one under him . In the last few days, there have been fears coming from the international community about the dangers that would come the way of  Nigeria if Mr President returns for another term.

"With his latest action, we add that the country is not safe in the remainder of his first term.

Lastly we ask Mr President  - Are we still one county?"