29.06.12 Nigeria Focus
Jonathan shakes up security apparatus
Fresh from his controversial trip to Brazil for the UN Earth Summit, President Goodluck Jonathan has made some sweeping changes to his cabinet. Almost immediately upon his
arrival, the President called for a meeting of the Security Council, where he
announced the long-rumoured removal of Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi (ret'd) as
National
Security Adviser (NSA) – a move that follows mounting concerns about Azazi's
failure to get on top of the Boko Haram crisis in Northern Nigeria. Jonathan
immediately announced Azazi's replacement as retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.
The president also announced the removal of Minister of Defence Haliru Mohammed Bello but is yet to name a replacement. Sources reveal that the President had
considered appointing Azazi as Defence Minister, but is currently rethinking
that option
in the face of criticism of the presidency from Azazi's supporters.
Sambo Dasuki, who is a son of the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, was until his appointment as NSA a registered, card-carrying member of the
opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). In fact, Dasuki had also been a member of the CPC's Renewal Committee,
which is spearheaded by former minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nasir
El-Rufai.
Ibrahim Dasuki was deposed as Sultan during the administration of late military
dictator Gen. Sani Abacha (1994-1998). His son, Sambo, has apparently been
engaged in private business since he retired from the Nigerian army.
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