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EXCLUSIVE: How Dambazau lost out in NSA race

One man who was 99.99% certain of being appointed national security adviser (NSA) by President Muhammadu Buhari was Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau — until two weeks ago when his stock began to fall.

Dambazau, who was removed as chief of army staff and then retired as a lieutenant general in 2010 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, was one person whose appointment was thought to be a mere formality.

He was, in other words, the NSA-in-waiting and he was already behaving like one.

But Buhari surprisingly appointed Babagana Monguno, a retired major general, as NSA in the much-awaited shake-up of his security cabinet on Monday.

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Presidential sources told TheCable that the case against Dambazau started building up a few weeks ago as Buhari began to finalise his list for the key security appointments.

One of the sources said: “Buhari initially wanted Ibrahim Coomassie, former inspector general of police, as NSA, but so much argument was made about Coomassie’s age. He is just 69, but it seems those who made that argument carried the day.

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Dambazau (centre) toured the presidential villa with Buhari and Jonathan in May

“That is how Dambazau moved to the top of the list as the favourite. However, several issues came up in the process of taking a final decision. One, Buhari does not want any officer who has held positions that exposed them to a lot of money. As it were, he wanted ‘innocent’ military officers to spearhead his security agenda. If you look at the new appointments, most of the security chiefs have never held what we call ‘plum’ positions in Nigeria.

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“Buhari wants to re-professionalise the military. Those who have had questions asked about their past stewardship eventually fell down the list. He liked Dambazau a lot but he could not dismiss the case against him.”

Also, his tenure in the army was reviewed and some of the facts that emerged did not do him any favours.

“The Boko Haram insurgency budded under his watch as army chief, with Gen. Sarki Mukhtar as NSA. The No. 1 security priority of Buhari is to tackle Boko Haram. Dambazau’s CV was not glittering in that aspect. It was going to be a questionable appointment,” the source added.

Another presidential source said Buhari would still accommodate the retired general from Kano, who was the first chief of army staff to hold a PhD when former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua appointed him in 2009.

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Dambazau, sitting to Buhari’s right, praying at the state house mosque in June 2015

“The fact that Dambazau did not get the NSA position does not mean he has been blacklisted by Buhari. He is still highly regarded. But you cannot question the choice of Gen. Babagana Monguno as the NSA. He comes highly recommended and he has an enviable record. He is upright.

“He was unfairly retired because Jonathan wanted to make Gen. Kenneth Minimah army chief. So Minimah’s mates and seniors had to go. It was not as if Monguno did anything wrong or was found wanting,” the source added.

Dambazau’s failure to get the NSA slot was all the more shocking because he seemed primed to play the role right from the campaign days.

He was the head of the security committee of the APC campaign organisation, and was always around Buhari in the days leading to the May 29 inauguration as well as after the president assumed office.

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Dambazau toured Aso Rock together with Buhari in the last days of Jonathan, and appeared prominently in all the pictures.

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Dambazua (first right) was on Buhari’s team to the AU summit in South Africa in June, along with Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun)

He also travelled with Buhari to the G7 summit in Bavaria, Germany, on June 7 — before travelling with him to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 25th African Union summit.

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TheCable understands that he played a major role in the security arrangements for Buhari, including the appointment of Muhammed Lawal Abubakar, a lieutenant colonel, as ADC to the president.

Dambazau also prayed regularly with Buhari at the state house mosque.

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32 comments
  1. There is a saying in Hausa language: “sabo da kaza ba ya hana yanka”. Meaning what will end up as meat in soup will always be, not matter friendly the owner becomes. This wasn’t meant to be, am sure Danbazzau knew, and PMB being friendly with him was not going change anything. If merit has carried the day, so be it and Praise God for that.

  2. Your comment..Am very happy with the final decision and the out come of the post of NSA. I think Mr. President knows what is doing. I wish Babagana Monguno a God guidance, wisdom and protection.
    In order to put Mr. President through and salvage Nigerian from this manece and insurgency.

  3. Becareful what you do to people on you way up cause you may meet them on your way down,danbazau Exboys congratulate you

  4. This is a message for those who think Buhari is not truthful to his words: a man that can stand tall against emotional decision need nothing from Nigerians but prayers, haters of Nigeria can jump in the lagoon ……

    1. What of haters of apc in lagos gubernatorial race nko?the lagoon could have no space again nko?long live oba.

  5. The God that brought President Buhari to power can not make mistake. By the time he finish putting the right people in the right position, Nigeria will be a Heaven on Earth.Ride on Baba.

    1. Maybe some fifth columnists went to spoil Damnazzau and prevented him from being appointed. I too had thought he would not miss that post

  6. Your comment..Sorry Mr, the Lt.Gen. who would have been NSA may still become the NSA in the very near future. He is NOT from Auchi at all But ‘Heritaged’ from Tiv Land please AND CROPPED in Kano State with a Zaria Growth. He is a True Nigerian, He is an officer & a perfect gentleman

  7. PMB DID THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE FRIENDSHIP AND SERVING THE COUNTRY IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE. IF YOU COULD REMEMBER PMB SAID SOMETHING ON THE INUAGURATION DAY THAT “I BELONG TO EVERYBODY AND I BELONG TO NOBODY” THIS A FIGHT TO SERVE AND SAVE THE COUNTRY BUT NOT A FIGHT TO SHARE THE WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.

  8. Frm the beginin he sent all the service chief down to maiduguri, now the appointment of the NSA & the service chief, I think Mr muhammadu Buhari really have some good plan for the common man of this country. All he need is our prayers for him to succeed because for me, he has made the right choice for we country. Babagan Mongunu,,,very nice decisions frm my lovinly president. God will see you thru #*BABA*#

  9. President Buhari has chosen well to have an honest and sincere man as General Babagana Monguno as his NSA. General Monguno is a true patriot, a great soldier and a man of integrity.

  10. May President Buhari depend more on God and may God mercifully be in charge of him and his government, then Naija will be a great enviable nation. God took His time while creating earth and its contents, so let Buhar take his time and give us the bests that had eluded the nation since 1970s

  11. PMB always put his country first.A great leader with great vision and mission for great people of great nation.

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