Dear Mr. Femi
Adesina
Since I am a
victim of association to one of the most vilified and scandalised Nigerians
through media trial, this Open Letter is the best opportunity for me to put
some issues in proper perspective following some of your public remarks about
your old friend.
As you are
aware, I have been actively involved in cementing relationship between the
media and security agencies in the recent past. Immediately after my premature
retirement from the public service by the Jonathan administration, I was
invited by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), under Col. Sambo
Dasuki (retired), to help in changing the negative media narrative on Nigeria’s
counter-terrorism campaigns. It was at a period when the Boko Haram was having
the upper hand in the propaganda campaign of the war against Nigeria with a
section of the foreign media castigating Nigerian troops as “cowardly” “undisciplined”
and “ill-trained.”
Among other
things, I have the responsibility of consulting for the Forum of Spokespersons
of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), then Chaired by Major General Chris
Olukolade, which has membership from critical public institutions including the
military, security, intelligence and response agencies. We also created and
sustained web portals for providing accurate and timely information to the
public.
I must
commend Mr. Femi Adesina for playing greater roles on the success of our
campaign because as the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, you also
encouraged Editors to support our activities through occasional self-censorship
to manage negative terrorists’ propaganda.
Being one of
the closest Editors to former National Security Adviser, you were always
sincere and frank when you met and discussed with Dasuki. You never hid your
hardened support for the candidacy of General Buhari of All Progressive
Congress (APC). I remember your annoyance over security clampdown on the media
and when you sought Dasuki’s intervention for compensation for media
organisations over their loss rather than engaging in prolonged court cases. I
was with you on that occasion in his office.
Apart from
interfacing between FOSSRA and media representatives at different levels and
locations, which you encouraged, Sambo Dasuki too, as National Security Adviser
occasionally hosted Media Debriefing sessions where sensitive information was
disseminated with supported photos and video clips. Many of such sessions were
classified, not for publication, where atrocities of terrorists; the gallantry
of the Nigerian troops and sophisticated equipment deployed for
counter-terrorism operations were disclosed or shown.
I am glad
that not only were you adequately informed of those success stories of Jonathan
administration’s war on terror, you even took the pain to pen an opinion
article eulogising Dasuki for keeping to his promise of clearing all known
terrorists’ camps before the handover to the new government.
As a
respected columnist, your article of May 1, 2015 on the back page of the Daily
Sun with the title “A little Late But Not too Late,” clearly exonerates Dasuki
from some allegations and also reveals some concrete facts of achievements that
were not being reported in the media.
It is
therefore, baffling that the same Femi Adesina, could brazenly contradict
himself shortly after gaining public office in his official statements. Some of
us who know your cordial relationship with Dasuki and information at your
disposal are indeed baffled by your dramatic turn-around in so short a time.
Meanwhile,
it is necessary to point out that not all funds in ONSA are meant for arms
procurement. As you are aware, under its Special Service Office (SSO), funds
are expended on training, espionage, communication, special interventions for
special causes including NGOs. One of the successful programmes under ONSA is
Soft-Approach to countering terrorism, of which deradicalization without the
use of force through economic empowerment, education, communication,
rehabilitation and counselling were part. The Presidential Initiative on
North-East (PINE) was conceived from the Soft Approach.
As a media
consultant who has distributed over 1000 releases on behalf of the military and
security agencies, I can state the following as a fact from official documents
and releases:
On August 6,
2015, through PRNigeria, Dasuki named and provided pictures of sophisticated
weapons bought for the military, which included: “Alpha jets, Armoured
Personnel Carriers (APCs) APCs, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP)
vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunitions, highly
sophisticated surveillance drones, T72 Battle Tanks and modification of F7
supersonic jet fighters." Even in his official response to your statement
against him on November 18, 2015, Dasuki mentioned official acknowledgements of
delivery of some of the equipment by the security chiefs.
It is
therefore laughable when critics claim that no weapons were purchased when a
video from Boko Haram leader Shekau displayed captured sophisticated weapons
after alleged mutinous soldiers fled Baga
At the
twilight of Jonathan’s administration more than 22 towns in Adamawa, Borno and
Yobe states were recovered and confirmed with video and pictorial evidences
through military press releases. Some of the towns recovered before the coming
of President Buhari included: Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Biu, Buni Yadi,
Damboa, Goniri, Gujba, Gulani, Gwoza, Hong, Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali,
Michika, Monguno, Mubi, and others. A clear testimony to some of the
accomplishments was the official DHQ release dated March 16, 2015 with
reference No: DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI and a title: “Troops Finally Rout Terrorists
from Bama and Last Stronghold in Yobe.”
Even though
when you confirmed in the same article while you were still a columnist that
“Sambisa Forest is falling” it was actually stormed by Nigerian troops where
about 300 kidnapped women and children were rescued with video evidence before
the emergence of the current administration.
In an
attempt to indict Sambo Dasuki, some media leak unethically expose expenditures
of sensitive agencies like National Intelligence Agency, Department of State
Service and others to public ridicules. This is unfair. It was for sensitive
nature of issues that we guarded the recruitment of Special M Forces to help in
the air while Nigerian troops recaptured the ground. Some would rather call our
technical Advisers as South-African mercenaries. Even when Nigeria financially
supported some neigbouring countries to participate in the Multi-National Joint
Taskforce (MNJTF) it was deliberately done because they were initially
reluctant as foreign powers were not helping Nigerian troops.
Since Dasuki
and others are now being arraigned in court, rather than the continued media
trial and planned secret trials, let the trial commence in open court to enable
prosecutors and accusers present their
arguments to remove facts from fictions and reality from illusions.
Sir, as you
know that I have tremendous respect for you, I strongly urge you to use your good
office to protect the integrity of critical institutions like security and the
media from public ridicule as some patriotic officers, media organisations, and
publishers are already being indicted without fair trial in the court of law.
While I
vouch for your professional integrity, you know for a fact that Dasuki is kind
and obediently loyal in and out of office. You know that for sure, Mr. Femi.
As we end
2015, I pray the year 2016 will not be one of media circus but one in which the
rule of law will determine official actions and suspects of all kinds will have
their rights under the constitution respected. This is my last article on this
issue and I do this with the best of intention to protect our institutions.
Yushau A.
Shuaib
Blogger: www.yashuaib.com
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