Sacked Bichi
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President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Mr Yusuf Bichi as the Director-General, DG, Department of State Services, DSS, has come and gone but not many know the reasons behind the sack.
However, facts have suggested that Tinubu was determined to address the pervading insecurity and, therefore, removing anyone suspected to be obstructing the efforts of the National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, towards exterminating terrorism from the country.
“Ribadu feels Bichi has been sabotaging his coordinating efforts to carry out the marching order given by the President to rid the country of terrorists and kidnappers,” a source told The Guardian.
The president had approved the appointment of Mohammed Mohammed as the new DG of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and Adeola Ajayi to replace Bichi at the DSS.
Bichi’s sudden sack was announced in a terse statement from the Presidency and left many to speculate on reasons for the decision.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, had described the the new boss, Ajayi, as a “thoroughbred”.
“Ajayi is a thoroughbred and versatile intelligence officer. Recruited into the service in 1990 as a cadet officer, the new DG has received several training in diverse areas of management, security leadership, critical thinking, human resources among others from within and outside the country. He is diligent, resilient, urbane, proactive and analytic. He comes to his new position with experience, capacity and immense goodwill,” Ajayi said.
“While wishing the outgoing DG, Bichi, success in his future endeavours. Management and staff of the service welcome the new DG and assure him of their cooperation, support and loyalty.”
Ajayi, new DSS DG
Ajayi rose through the ranks to Assistant Director-General of DSS. He had, at various times, served as Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers and Kogi states.
On his part, Mohammed has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian Mission to Libya.
The 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, BUK, had served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and at the State House, Abuja.
Tinubu charged the new security chiefs to work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results and tasked them to bring their experience to bear in tackling the security challenges bedevilling the country through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and in alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday, the President thanked the outgoing DGs of the two intelligence agencies for their services to the nation while wishing them success in their future endeavours.
Meanwhile, a video has surfaced on social media showing the jubilation that erupted at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, following the announcement that President Bola Tinubu had relieved Yusuf Bichi of his duties as the Director General (DG) of the DSS.
However, Bichi’s replacement, Ajayi, an Assistant DG within the same agency, was warmly received by several staff members.
The news of Bichi’s removal spread quickly throughout the DSS office, leading to spontaneous celebrations among staff, many of whom had long harboured grievances against their former boss.
Bichi was appointed DG by former President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2018. His tenure was marred by numerous allegations of nepotism, favouritism, and a general atmosphere of distrust and discontent within the ranks of the security agency, who accused him of prioritising loyalty over competence.
Several staff members felt marginalised and overlooked for promotions, while Bichi’s cronies or individuals from Bichi’s ethnic group benefited from major promotions.
Also, the work environment was reportedly toxic and those who dared to voice their dissatisfaction with perceived injustices were allegedly sidelined or sanctioned, resulting in general apathy and low morale among the staff who felt disconnected from the leadership.
The DSS staff saw Bichi’s removal as a victory for the oppressed and could be seen in the video hugging, shaking hands, and dancing at their office.
