Arms and President Jonathan’s National Security Adviser


By Ogaga Ifowodo
By every standard, even in Nigeria  where new standards are set every day in our never ending quest to shock and awe the world with impunity, the figures reeled out against former National Security Adviser Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) would boggle any mind.
According to Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity, citing the interim report of the Air Vice Marshall Ode panel on arms procurements since 2007, no less than N643 billion and $2.2 billion was spent through—to use either the panel’s or Adesina’s quaint phrase—”interventions from some organisations that provided funds” for what turned out to be “illicit and fraudulent financial transactions” under the guise of arming the military to put down the Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalist insurgency.
But these figures were conjured out of the witch-hunting hat of Buhari’s investigative panel, say Jonathan and Dasuki in effect. Speaking from Washington, D.C., in the United States where he gave a speech on “elections and democratic consolidation in Africa,” Jonathan denied awarding any billion-dollar arms contract. “I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons,” he said, adding for emphasis: “Where did the money come from?”
The figures truly beggar belief, especially in a country borrowing money to pay salaries, and make Jonathan sad. “Sometimes, I feel sad when people mention these figures,” he said—shaking his head and a step from weeping for his country of liars and witch-hunters, I imagine.
Yet, Dasuki, his NSA, may implicate him in any scandal that may yet be proved, even if in the end the figures are not exact to the last fraction of a billion. “Nigerians should note,” said Dasuki in his reaction to Adesina’s statement and the report that President Buhari had ordered the arrest of all persons indicted in the report,”that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will [sic] approve application for payment.”
He who asserts must prove, so Dasuki must now tender evidence to show that he was not usurping the powers of the military command by turning himself into the “clearing house” in the procurement of weapons for the armed forces. Not a small thing, I think, when an individual becomes a house. Jonathan: “I did not award any $2 billion contract for procurement of weapons.” Dasuki: “There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-in-Chief.” Apparently, arms were bought. Dasuki even names the types and the quantities, including Alpha jets, helicopters and other military hardware that we do not have to search for with a magnifying glass.
The more the billions that were spent to equip our army for the fight against Boko Haram, however, the more the lives wasted (soldiers’ as civilians’).
The former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Badeh, very loudly indicted himself by confessing that he sent soldiers to battle literally bare-handed, leading to my column “Arms and the Nigerian Army” (Vanguard, 5 August 2015).
Yet,Dasuki cites grateful acknowledgements of delivery of the very weapons that the service chiefs had requested and were bought by him (Dasuki, as it is safe to assume). Why then our soldiers were driven to mutiny and Brigadier Enitan Ransome-Kuti was sacrificed in a face-saving measure is what will prove who the liars are in this matter of arms and the man who advised former President Jonathan on security.
Which brings me to the point I mentioned earlier: how Dasuki as an ordinary NSA usurped the powers of the CDS and Minister of Defence combined. And, if Jonathan is to be believed, even the powers of the president as well. One of the most devastating . Sources: Vanguard news

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