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.
For more news and expert analysis about Nigeria, please see Nigeria Focus and Nigeria Politics & Security.
© 2012 Menas Associates
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