Segun James in Lagos



For watchers of the power configuration in the Buhari administration, the sack of Lawal Daura, former Director-General of State Security Services, yesterday was the end of a chapter in a complex power play at the presidential villa.

Recalled from retirement on July 2, 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the secret service, Lawal, a close associate of the president from his Daura homestead, was destined to be a major pillar of the power structure of the Buhari presidency.

And in the bipolar struggle for power at the presidency, Lawal understandably aligned with Mamman Daura, an erstwhile journalist and powerful business mogul nephew of Buhari, whose enormous influence on the president is well known.

On the other side of the polar was Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser, who had on his side, Ibrahim Magu, the controversial boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Coming from the Daura homestead of the president and being a close ally of his powerful nephew, the former head of the secret service easily became the feet of the ‘cabal’ at the villa with so much gut and gusto that he could take any of the other power contenders without much ado.
This much played out in two instances.

First was the controversial security report the DSS wrote to the Senate that effectively blocked Magu’s confirmation as the chairman of the EFCC. This brought him eyeball to eyeball with Osinbajo, who was favourably disposed to Magu’s appointment.

In spite of the efforts of the vice president, who clearly by implication had pitched his tent with the NSA camp, Senate confirmation was withheld. But using his vast knowledge of the law, the vice president exploited a loophole in the 1999 Constitution to maintain Magu in office in an acting capacity.

That fight was barely over when another battle front was opened through the clash between Magu’s EFCC and the National Intelligence Agency over the latter’s safe house that was invaded by the former where about N13billion in several foreign currencies were seized.

With the Director-General of the agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke sent on suspension and made to face an administrative enquiry at the instance of Osinbajo, who headed the panel with Monguno and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami, as members, the stage was set for the second fight.

Perhaps motivated by the need to protect the independence of the intelligence community, Lawal stood behind Oke and offered to appear before the panel.

Osinbajo working with Monguno blocked Lawal. And in spite of his working alliance with the Malami, Lawal could not stop Osinbajo from producing an adverse report on Oke.

But as it happened in the Magu’s confirmation fight, the NIA investigation has effectively ended in a stalemate as nothing concrete has happened since the report was submitted to the president more than a year ago. Osinbajo, no doubt, saw the hidden hand of Lawal in this.

While Osinbajo might have seen Lawal as a law enforcement officer who seem to have taken undue advantage of his close association with the president to become a law on to himself, answerable to no one, the former head of secret service felt he had a responsibility to defend the independence and integrity of the intelligence community from the prying eyes of the non-initiates, including Osinbajo and Monguno.

Intelligence community watchers think though that Lawal was on the right path and they praised him for elevating the status of the DSS and preventing it from been humiliated. But he probably allowed such silent praises to get into his head and thought he could act with impunity.

During the DSS invasion of the residence of some justices of the Supreme Court and judges of high courts, Osinbajo was said to have expressed deep concern quietly that Lawal was going too far outside the law. But Magu expressed his own objection openly.

Meanwhile, the DSS under Lawal had become bad news in the human rights community, with most abuse of law that had darkened the image of the Buhari administration attributed to it.

Its refusal to release former NSA Sambo Dasuki and Shiite Leader El-Zakzaky after several courts had granted them multiple bails were the main reference point of anyone who wanted to carpet the administration for rights abuse.

But had Lawal limited his fight to struggle for power over security issues, presidency sources told THISDAY, he probably might have survived. He was said to have strayed into the political tough, allying with Mamman Daura and a governor from the South-west to shop for a South-east replacement for Osinbajo in the impending 2019 presidential election.

This, more than anything else, the sources said must have put him at loggerheads with south-west leaders in the APC.

Yesterday when the siege to the National Assembly occurred, with the attendant embarrassment to the federal government.

The former DSS boss feeling not particularly responsible to the acting president, sent his men to the National Assembly, without the authorization of the acting president, to provide safe passage for federal legislators, who wanted to effect leadership change at the Senate.

The move backfired hugely, and the public outcry as well as the anger it generated within the international community was the perfect chance Osinbajo needed to ease out Lawal, who hitherto had become untouchable and above the law.

michlins:
All I know is that Osibanjo would be a better president than Buhari. Our God of providence will do it for us. Watch and see. He has been removing them one by one

PassingShot:
PMB should have sacked Daura long ago. It was one of the many frustrations I hold against the president.

How can I, as the president, have a head of an agency who reports directly to me, block the appointment of another agency's head twice, without checking with me?

PMB dey fall hands sometimes.

FarahAideed:


I hope you Know Daura is Buharis nephew in real life and his staunch loyalist

PassingShot:

Your biological son/father can become your enemy if you're seen as blocking their access to "forbidden fruits" they so much desire.

The fight against corruption has turned many against PMB and that includes his immediate household.

PassingShot:
PMB should have sacked Daura long ago. It was one of the many frustrations I hold against the president.

How can I, as the president, have a head of an agency who reports directly to me, block the appointment of another agency's head twice, without checking with me?

PMB dey fall hands sometimes.

PassingShot:
PMB should have sacked Daura long ago. It was one of the many frustrations I hold against the president.

How can I, as the president, have a head of an agency who reports directly to me, block the appointment of another agency's head twice, without checking with me?

PMB dey fall hands sometimes.

FarahAideed:


Oga passing Shot no Nigerian leader has ever received the kind of blank cheque support Buhari received in 2015 ... We all dropped our tribes, religion , status ,age all just to make sure he had all he needed to succeed , even Niger Delta gave him their full support , Buhari had just one job to do and that was fix Nigeria but yet for some inexplicable reason he chose the part of Nepotism, lies, bigotry , terrorism , tyranny and gross incompetence and that Sir is why he is so hated today... Like I always ask why is Ambode not being hated ? Why is is hard to see people criticise Ambode online?why do I take time always defend Ambode online even though I am not paid to do so ? It just because we can see the little effort Ambode is putting and that's something we dont see in Buhari .

Bolustical:
[s][/s]
Rubbish

You all dropped your tribes yet you all gave him 5% of your votes? Or it was the Avengers who started blowing up installations that gave him support? You all like Ambode yet you people still prefer Jimi Agbaje to him

You guys are pathetic liars!

PassingShot:
PMB should have sacked Daura long ago. It was one of the many frustrations I hold against the president.

How can I, as the president, have a head of an agency who reports directly to me, block the appointment of another agency's head twice, without checking with me?

PMB dey fall hands sometimes.

nnamdibig:
Lawal Daura the sacrificial lamp.

SarakiBukola:


Buhari is not particularly intelligent. That's why his own people carry out scams right under his nose.

To those saying Daura wasn't working with Saraki, explain 3 things:

1. Why did Kemi Adeosun pass SSS screening, but Senate found out her dirty secrets and were blackmailing her? Ordinary civilians better at background checks?

2. Why did SSS submit indicting report on EFCC would be head to Senate rather than Presidency ?

3. Who is more likely to give hundreds of millions to Daura ? Buhari or Saraki?

He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Siblings have sold each other for much less.

I wonder why the average Nigerian youth has such a low IQ and can't comprehend basic things

PS - i am a strong opponent of Buhari who is just as incompetent as Goodluck Jonathan.

One should just be objective at all times

Amitez:


This APC and SR narrative does not fly sir.

Senate screening is based on security reports from relevant agencies. These clearance would first get to the president before being passed to Senate for clearance. Kemi had been screened in Ogun State. My suspicion is that someone in Presidency who knows about her forgery nailed her. On Magu, just like the caseof Kemi, only DSS can provide senate with such information.

Truth be told. APC wanted to remove Saraki, but it backfired and the outcry from both local and international community made the government to seek a fall guy and Lawal Daura was sacrificed.

Do you really believe that the President is not aware about the invasion? You are so naive if you do!

SarakiBukola:


Buhari is not particularly intelligent. That's why his own people carry out scams right under his nose.

To those saying Daura wasn't working with Saraki, explain 3 things:

1. Why did Kemi Adeosun pass SSS screening, but Senate found out her dirty secrets and were blackmailing her? Ordinary civilians better at background checks?

2. Why did SSS submit indicting report on EFCC would be head to Senate rather than Presidency ?

3. Who is more likely to give hundreds of millions to Daura ? Buhari or Saraki?

He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Siblings have sold each other for much less.

I wonder why the average Nigerian youth has such a low IQ and can't comprehend basic things

PS - i am a strong opponent of Buhari who is just as incompetent as Goodluck Jonathan.

One should just be objective at all times

Carmal90:


So Saraki asked him to pass kemi?
He asked him to raid judges house?. Asked him to jail zakzaky?
Ask him to jail dasuki?
Ask him to jail journalist for two years?

SarakiBukola:


You are the naive one if you think SSS director would write a report on EFCC appointee and send to Senate before Presidency. SSS director will blatantly work against his own boss ? Common, use your head nah
Read between the lines.

Where did i say Presidency was not involved in the invasion? Of course Buhari did it. This NASS invasion was used as a smokescreen to just ease out Daura for treachery.

It's not a SR narrative, it's simply basic commonsense

SarakiBukola:


Buhari is not particularly intelligent. That's why his own people carry out scams right under his nose.

To those saying Daura wasn't working with Saraki, explain 3 things:

1. Why did Kemi Adeosun pass SSS screening, but Senate found out her dirty secrets and were blackmailing her? Ordinary civilians better at background checks?

2. Why did SSS submit indicting report on EFCC would be head to Senate rather than Presidency ?

3. Who is more likely to give hundreds of millions to Daura ? Buhari or Saraki?

He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Siblings have sold each other for much less.

I wonder why the average Nigerian youth has such a low IQ and can't comprehend basic things

PS - i am a strong opponent of Buhari who is just as incompetent as Goodluck Jonathan.

One should just be objective at all times

Amitez:




Please, read your posts here coloured RED

LOL. Let me go elementary.

Daura has worked for Saraki on several occasions BUT the NASS invasion was likely with the knowledge of Buhari because it's with his characteristic clumsiness.

I hope finally something entered

Now go back and read....very slowly