Buhari’s Will Hand Over Safer Nigeria To Successor, Says Monguno
THE National Security Adviser to the President, Maj-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd) has disclosed the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari was to hand over a safer country to whosoever Nigerians would elect in next year’s general elections as his successor in office.
Monguno, who stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence for budget defence, said achieving the immediate goal of defeating insecurity would therefore require the collective support of the parliament.
He, however, stated that insecurity was not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global menace, adding: “I must also say that the type of insecurity that confronts us is not peculiar just to Nigeria, but a global thing. And in today’s context, we can only overcome this problem when we recognise the importance of intelligence as being the driver, the propellant of all activities in the whole of society approach.
“It is important that all the problems I present are taken into consideration by this very important committee. We hinge all our hopes and aspirations on whatever action you would take in solving the myriad of problems that confront us. And I want to assure that the problems are quote enormous.
“The successes we have been recording so far in overcoming the security challenges, especially in the last four to five months, are basically rooted in the efforts of the Department of State Service (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), having being able to provide timely intelligence to the operational element. I want to commend their efforts and also want to, by extension, commend the efforts of their counterparts in the operational sphere.
“I want to put aside whatever other competing considerations there are. Buhari has the desire the to hand over to whoever is going to inherit what he is working on right now, a safer Nigeria. It is true and I have to be very honest with you that dealing with asymmetric warfare and overcoming asymmetric problems are completely different from what we experienced in the last century.
“Everything revolves around intelligence, and the intelligence we are dealing with is a broad spectrum, which goes all the way down to the local level. We deal with human beings and if we are not supported in the right way, no matter how emotionally, how psychologically we are prepared, we cannot overcome this problem without legislative support.
“I am also happy to inform you that in the recently conducted ministerial retreat, which was organised by the office of the SGF on behalf of the President, the Senate President and Speaker of the House were there and I highlighted briefly some of the problems confronting us and they have all agreed to help us.
“We are appealing to you in good conscience, all of you represent different parts of this country and I know you have the interest of Nigeria at heart. Our people are suffering, they are weeping, they are wailing, they are moaning, they are gnashing their teeth. We must help them. We have our limitations as intelligence agencies. The rest can only be done through legislative drive.”
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, charged the NSA and all security agencies to ensure that the country was secure during and after next year’s elections.
