Nigerians have taken to various social media to criticise Thursday’s appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS.
Bichi who is from the northern region of the country, has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
Buhari Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, had certified Bichi as one who can do the job professionally.
He said: “The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.”
But despite Bichi’s paraded qualifications, Nigerians through various social media, saw his appointment over more qualified Mr Mathew Seiyefa and other superiors from the southern part of the country, as unfair.
Reacting to the appointment approved by President Buhari, the senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, Ben Murray-Bruce criticised the appointment, noting that the principle of federal character was not honoured and that the acting DG, Matthew Seiyefa should have been retained.
His words: “Matthew Seiyefa was the ONLY Southerner heading an Intelligence agency in Nigeria. He was competent and loyal. In the interest of federal character and North South balance, President @MBuhari should have retained him.
Bichi may be competent, but how can all Intelligence agencies be headed by Northerners?”
Also, Mr Donald Duke, a presidential aspirant in the forthcoming election, and Reno Okri, ex aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, condemned in its entirety Bichi’s appointment.
Reno’s words: “I congratulate President @MBuhari for appointing yet another Northerner, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to head the Department of State Security. Whoever doubted Buhari’s 97% versus 7% statement can now see the President is dead set on his Northernisation of government policy”
Duke’s said: “PMB has just appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as substantive DG SSS. Against the clamour to broaden the heads of our nations security framework, PMB has proven himself an irredeemable irredentist. SAD!!!”
Others include: Millionaire Business Man: “With the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as DSS DG, it has further gone to show that Buhari is nothing but a tribalist with high nepotistic tendency.” King Buhari removes Osinbajo’s appointment in Seiyefa as DSS DG. He now appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new DG of the DSS. Need I remind u that Yusuf retired from service last year after 35 years of service. He’s also a northerner from Kano state..Seyeifa is from Bayelsa”
Lere Olayinka #Two appointments today: Abbas Umar Masanawa (FROM KATSINA) as the MD of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company. Yussuf Bichi (FROM KANO) as DG DSS. He replaced Mathew Seiyefa (From Bayelsa), who… See tweets below:
See tweets below:
Ben Murray-Bruce
11 hours ago
Matthew Seiyefa was the ONLY Southerner heading an Intelligence agency in Nigeria. He was competent and loyal. In the interest of federal character and North South balance, President @MBuhari should have retained him. Bichi may be competent, but how can all Intelligence agencies be headed by Northerners?
Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 ✔ @OlayinkaLere Buhari sacks Bayelsa born Acting Director of DSS, appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as new DG. 8:22 PM – Sep 13, 2018 46 52 people are talking about this
Lere Olayinka – Aresa 1 ✔ @OlayinkaLere Buhari sacks Bayelsa born Acting Director of DSS, appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as new DG. 8:22 PM – Sep 13, 2018 46 52 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy
King @theDamorela Ita Ekpeyong is an Efik from Cross Rivers state… Plus, I don’t recall OBJ or GEJ having over 90% of their top heads of services to be from a certain region.. Always get your facts right Aburo Lukaku ®
@dino_akin GEJ also replaced Gadzama with Ita Ekpeyong. Even Obasanjo appointed his Egba kinsman Kayode Are. But Buhari is wrong and lifeless for appointing Yusuf Magaji Bichi 9:54 PM – Sep 13, 2018 6 See King ‘s other Tweets
Aburo Lukaku ® @dino_akin GEJ also replaced Gadzama with Ita Ekpeyong. Even Obasanjo appointed his Egba kinsman Kayode Are. But Buhari is wrong and lifeless for appointing Yusuf Magaji Bichi 9:54 PM – Sep 13, 2018
King @theDamorela ICYMI, P. Buhari removes Osinbajo’s appointment in Seiyefa as DSS DG, He now appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new DG of the DSS. Need I remind u that Yusuf retired from service last year after 35 years of service. He’s also a northerner from Kano state.. Seyeifa is from Bayelsa 9:59 PM – Sep 13, 2018
Donald Duke ✔ @Donald_Duke PMB has just appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as substantive DG SSS. Against the clamour to broaden the heads of our nations security framework, PMB has proven himself an irredeemable irredentist. SAD!!! 8:32 PM – Sep 13, 2018 2,389 2,360 people are talking about this
Millionaire Business Man @tboss_guy Buhari ready to do anything to win 2019 elections, but I won’t vote for him. The people are tiered.
Adeyanju Deji @adeyanjudeji BREAKING: President Buhari sacks Bayelsa born Acting Director of SSS, appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as new DG of SSS. Reason: Tribalism and nepotism. 9:29 PM – Sep 13, 2018 1 See Millionaire Business Man’s other Tweets
Adeyanju Deji @adeyanjudeji BREAKING: President Buhari sacks Bayelsa born Acting Director of SSS, appoints Yusuf Magaji Bichi as new DG of SSS. Reason: Tribalism and nepotism. 9:29 PM – Sep 13, 2018
Victoria concordia crescit @iPault Buhari is an ethnoreligious jingoist at his best.
Millionaire Business Man @tboss_guy With the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as DSS DG, it has further gone to show that Buhari is nothing but a tribalist with high nepotistic tendency. Let’s unite and vote out Buhari. 9:52 PM – Sep 13, 2018
Reno Omokri ✔ @renoomokri With the appointment of another Northerner, Yusuf Magaji Bichi to heae the Dept of State Security, the safest thing to bet on in @Bet9jaOfficial is that President @MBuhari will always fill any sensitive national intelligence or security position with a Northerner #RenosDarts 8:59 PM – Sep 13, 2018 348 215 people are talking about this
Reno Omokri ✔ @renoomokri I congratulate President @MBuhari for appointing yet another Northerner, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to head the Department of State Security. Whoever doubted Buhari’s 97% versus 7% statement can now see the President is dead set on his Northernisation of government policy #RenosDarts 8:31 PM – Sep 13, 2018 1,374 1,013 people are talking about this
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