A Niger Delta based civil society organization, People and Environmental Rights Assembly, PERA has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for dispelling the insinuation that he is a sectional leader by choosing the new National Security Adviser, NSA, retired Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki from the core North.
The group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Prince Mefe Akiri said genuine sons and daughters of the south-south region have cause to be proud of the president’s decision in view of recent accusations by critics of his government that he only considers persons from his Ijaw clan or Niger Delta extraction for sensitive positions under his administration.
According to the statement, “the appointment of Sambo Dasuki as the National Security Adviser, NSA is one of the things President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has done recently that has elicited joy and made our region proud again. Before now, the critics of this administration have always painted President Jonathan as the enemy of the North and created the impression that he is an Ijaw or South-South president who will only appoint people from his region into sensitive national positions. We are happy that such unfair criticism can no longer hold water in view of last week decision by the president to replace a Niger Delta son with a core Northerner as NSA.
“From our findings so far, we are equally happy that the president has not taken the decision to appoint Dasuki to satisfy sectional interest but based on the retired military officer’s track record, educational qualifications and strong character. It is also heartwarming to note that retired Colonel Dasuki is a course mate in the Nigerian Defence Academy to General Azazi from whom he is taking over as NSA . This, we believe will enable him bring to bare on his new position without any hindrance his rich military experience and strong character as a disciplined military officer that saw him leave the service honourably when he opposed late General Sani Abacha’s self-succession plans.”
The group expressed hope that the new NSA will not disappoint thousands of its members, President Jonathan and Nigerians at large who believe in and support his appointment based on his credentials and untainted military record.
“ We have come out to express our support for the new NSA even though he is taking over from one of our own in the south-south because we are hopeful that he will not disappoint his principal, President Jonathan, and Nigerians as a whole by bringing to bare his rich military trainings in Nigeria, India and USA between 1972 and 1992 as well as his work experience in various Artillery units of the Nigerian Army, on the management and control of the precarious security situation in the country today”, the statement added.
