President Muhammadu Buhari’s biographer, John Paden has disclosed why a former National Security Adviser, NSA, under the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), may not be set free soon.
Dasuki is standing trial for the misappropriation of funds meant for purchase of arms and other logistics to fight Boko Haram, the insurgent group troubling the Northeast.
He approached the ECOWAS court after a Federal High Court’s order that he should be released was ignored by the federal government. The regional court ruled that he should be released.
But, Paden stated, in his book titled “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges of Leadership in Nigeria”, that Dasuki’s release from detention may not come as soon as expected.
In Chapter 15 of the book which focused on ‘Military Procurement Accountability’, Paden wrote that the President believed in confronting any act of corruption that will threaten the integrity to the military to the end.
According to him, “For Buhari who has said openly that he wants to be remembered for fighting corruption, it will be an unmitigated disaster for his legacy if such a gargantuan fleecing went on in his primary constituency, the military, and he failed to unearth it and punish the culprits.
“Buhari knows that Task Force and Division Commanders knew of and approved these arms purchases; Service Chiefs knew too; Ministers of Defence and Finance knew; Chief of Staff knew; civil servants in the Ministries of Defence and Finance knew, Chief of Staff to the President knew; the Vice President knew; and the President knew. It is why Buhari will keep his foot on Dasuki’s throat until he fesses up.
“Who really was Sambo Dasuki fronting for in Jonathan’s cabinet? That is the main question to which Buhari is also seeking answers.
“As noted throughout this study, Buhari has a strong belief in right and wrong. He also has an abiding respect for the Nigerian military as an institution that can help hold Nigeria together.
“From Buhari’s perspective, if corruption in military procurement undermines the integrity of the military, that corruption must be confronted.
“And if such procurement allegations weaken the military response to Boko Haram and put ordinary foot soldiers at risk, that corruption poses a double threat, endangering even the Nigeria Project itself.”
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