How #EndBadGovernance Protest Led to the Exit of DSS and NIA Chiefs
By Wisdom Tide
31/08/2024
The circumstances surrounding the recent resignations of Yusuf Bichi, the former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Ahmed Abubakar, the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), have been brought to light. Sources within the Presidency have confirmed that President Bola Tinubu, alongside National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, expressed significant concerns over the intelligence operations of these two security agencies following the violent #EndBadGovernance protests and the seizure of three presidential aircraft in France.
Bichi was reportedly held accountable for the DSS's failure to anticipate and mitigate the violent turn of the #EndBadGovernance protests in northern Nigeria. Similarly, Abubakar faced scrutiny for the NIA's failure to preempt the seizure of the presidential jets by the Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited. This legal dispute, which led to the seizure of the aircraft, including a newly acquired Airbus, was a significant embarrassment for the administration both domestically and internationally.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which erupted on August 1, 2024, were largely peaceful in the South-West but escalated into violence in states like Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi. In these northern states, public and private properties were destroyed, and shops were looted, prompting curfews in Kano, Bauchi, and Plateau. The protests were fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with the government's economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies, increases in electricity tariffs, and the rising cost of living.
Bichi, who was appointed DSS Director-General by former President Muhammadu Buhari on September 14, 2018, hails from Kano State, a region heavily affected by the protests. Abubakar, from Katsina State, was also appointed by Buhari, on January 10, 2018.
Presidential sources revealed that President Tinubu and NSA Ribadu were dismayed by the series of events surrounding the protest and the aircraft seizure. "The President was greatly embarrassed by the violent turn of the #EndBadGovernance protests and the seizure of the presidential jets," one source stated. "He was deeply displeased with the performance of both the DSS and the NIA under their respective leaders, which led to their requested resignations."
There were also reports of a long-standing rift between Bichi and Ribadu, which was exacerbated by the aftermath of the protests. The deteriorating relationship between the two was said to have further isolated Bichi from the President, leading to his eventual removal.
Abubakar announced his resignation on August 24, 2024, after a meeting with President Tinubu. Bichi's resignation followed shortly after, with the announcement made by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on August 26, 2024.
Celebrations Within the DSS Following Bichi's Departure
The resignation of Bichi was met with mixed reactions within the DSS and the public. Some DSS officers, speaking anonymously, described his departure as a relief from what they termed 'unprofessionalism.' These officers cited instances of alleged misconduct, including undue interference in DSS operations by Bichi's wife and son.
A video purportedly showing DSS staff celebrating Bichi’s resignation surfaced online. However, some reports suggested that the video was from the Kogi State DSS office, where personnel were celebrating the appointment of a new director who had previously served there. Nonetheless, sentiments among many DSS personnel indicated that Bichi's leadership was not well-regarded within the agency.
One officer stated, "We saw his regime as a form of punishment. He obstructed the career progression of many officers by extending the service years of those due to retire. Senior officers who should have retired in 2021 and 2022 were kept in service, blocking the promotion of younger officers."
Another officer highlighted Bichi's indifference to staff welfare. "Despite a 40 percent salary increase approved by the Federal Government, there was no implementation for DSS personnel. We used to earn more than the police, but now they earn more than us because their increase was implemented. Even a proposed 25 percent increase for us this year has not materialized," he lamented.
There were also allegations of nepotism in Bichi's recruitment practices. "Bichi's recruitments were arbitrary and heavily biased towards northerners. This year alone, three different training sessions were conducted for recruits whose hiring process was unclear. His first recruitment drive in 2019 saw either 420 or 450 personnel from his local government area in Kano State alone, a significant portion of the total intake."
DSS officers further claimed that Bichi’s wife and son abused their influence within the agency. Reports of Bichi’s wife assaulting DSS directors and deputy directors at airports, and his son flaunting luxury vehicles while being guarded by DSS operatives, sparked public criticism.
The publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jafaar Jafaar, also weighed in, accusing Bichi of lowering the standards of the DSS and turning it into a "graveyard of career aspirations." Jafaar criticized Bichi for recruiting individuals with questionable qualifications and for allowing his family to wield undue influence over the agency.
Controversial Operations and Alleged Rights Violations
Bichi's tenure as DSS Director-General was marred by several controversial operations, including the high-profile arrest of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. Emefiele was detained on June 9, 2023, and was only arraigned more than a month later. Even after a Federal High Court granted him bail, the DSS re-arrested him on July 25, defying a court order and allegedly assaulting a prison official in the process.
Another controversial case involved the detention of Anthony Okolie, who was held for 10 weeks by the DSS for using a SIM card previously registered to Hanan Buhari, daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Bichi's leadership style and the agency’s actions during his tenure have left a lasting impact on the DSS and its perception by the public. As the agency moves forward under new leadership, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and whether reforms will be implemented to restore confidence in Nigeria's primary domestic intelligence service.
Attempts to reach Bichi for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report
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