Buhari Fires CSO Over Supremacy Battle With ADC

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Abdulrahman Mani, for engaging in a supremacy battle with the Aide-de-Camp to the President, Lt.-Col. Lawal Abubakar. Our correspondent learnt on Saturday that his redeployment was one of the sweeping changes being carried out by the acting Director-General of the Department of State Service, Mr. Lawan Daura, on the order of the President. Buhari had appointed Daura to replace Mr. Ita Ekpeyong during the week
at the peak of the crisis between the DSS and the military especially as it concerns the President’s protection. It would be recalled that Abubakar had earlier issued a memo redeploying DSS officials from 10 beats that they had hitherto been manning inside the Presidential Villa. He had explained that the decision to strip the DSS officials of their traditional roles was part of efforts to enhance general security within the villa. But in a rejoinder dated June 26, the former CSO directed the DSS officials to disregard the ADC’s order. Mani had argued that the duties being performed by DSS personnel in the Presidential Villa are backed by relevant statues and gazetted instruments. SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Mani who was redeployed to Ebonyi State had since been replaced with Mr. Bashir Abubakar. Abubakar was said to be, until his new appointment, an Assistant Director in the Bayelsa State Command of the DSS. Also affected in the shake-up, it was learnt, is the Administrative Officer in the Presidential Villa Widi Liman. The AO who was earlier appointed by Buhari was said to have been redeployed to the Oyo State Command of the service. It was further learnt that the new DSS boss had also ordered the reversal of some promotions carried out in the service during the last days of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Those who benefited from the exercise nationwide were said to have been allegedly promoted by the last administration for their loyalty. A source said about 30 out of the about 100 beneficiaries of the “arbitrary and undeserving promotion” were from the Presidential Villa. “The new DG is putting things right. More decisions may follow,” a source told our correspondent. The source however said a decision had not been taken on who will replace the AO. He also said a decision was still being awaited on the fate of the DSS bodyguards who served under Jonathan and were posted out en mass recently.