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There were indications in Abuja, on Tuesday, that the Department of
State Services might soon carry out a massive deployment of its
personnel across the country, The PUNCH has learnt.
The expected transfer, according to reliable sources, would affect
some state directors and those said to be manning what a security source
described as “strategic positions.”
Investigations by a correspondent showed that the transfer might
come as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari returns to Nigeria from
London, where he is on holiday.
His arrival, according to investigations, will also determine the
fate of the Acting Director-General of the agency, Mr Mathew Seiyefa.
Seiyefa, who hails from Bayelsa State, was named as the new
helmsman for the secret police after the shocking sacking of the
erstwhile DG, Mr lawal Daura by the Acting President, Prof Yemi
Osinbajo (SAN ), on Tuesday.
Osinbajo asked Daura to hand over to the most senior officer of the agency before he was handed over to the Police.
Daura, it was learnt, is currently under a house arrest and is
being guarded by riot policemen. He had yet to officially hand over to
Seiyefa.
A correspondent gathered that some state governors were believed to
have compromised some state directors of the agency. It was learnt that
there was no way the Federal Government would allow such directors to
stay in such states as the nation prepares for the 2019 general
elections.
A source, who was privy to the complaint of some of the affected
states, said that top politicians who felt that Daura was working
against their interest would use the opportunity of his removal to
demand the deployment of such directors.
Besides, security sources said that it was also in the interest of
the government to deploy new officers to the states ahead of the
elections.
One of the security sources said, “Naturally, the leadership of the agency has to appraise the operational readiness of each state for the elections.
“Then, it will also look at the time a particular director has
stayed in a state and check the criminal record under such officer when
he arrived there. These are factors that will also play some roles in
whether he would stay or not.
“You also know that the police high command, even in the eve of
an election, changes its commissioner of police in states. So, we could
also do that but the action may either not be publicised or carried out
at such short notice.”
It was also gathered that the interests of top politicians in the
ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, and other major political
parties may be taken into consideration while considering the transfer
in the agency.
“Some politicians believe that their state governors have
compromised the directors of the agency in their states and have turned
them against them (the politicians).
“While the DSS is not like police where commissioners of Police
in states are politically exposed, we may have to look into such
complaints if they are valid. Don’t also forget that he who plays the
piper, calls the tune,” the source added.
Meanwhile, it was also learnt that Seiyefa is eagerly waiting for
the arrival of President Buhari to know if he would be confirmed or not.
Seiyefa, who is due for retirement in July 2019, was said to have
been the stabilising factor in the agency following anger by some
operatives when the government returned Daura to the agency from
retirement.
It was gathered that while some were debating whether Seiyefa’s
state of origin would not work against him in leading the agency in an
election year, others were said to have argued that it could also be an
asset.
A Presidency source said, “There are two sides to the coin. Can
government trust such a man because of where he hails from and the
politics there? Will he be totally loyal to the Federal Government and
President Buhari?
“Yes, his state of origin and background could also be the needed credibility that will help the government.
“Whatever be the case, the President will determine who will occupy the office when he returns to his desk on Monday.”
A correspondent, however, gathered that Seiyefa might not be able
to effect serious operational changes in the agency unless he is
confirmed by the President.