ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chief Media Consultant to the Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), Mr Yushau Shuaib, on Monday, has resigned.
In his notice of resignation served on the chairman of the forum and Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Rabe Abubakar, Shuaib said he could no longer continue to serve FOSSRA, which is under the auspices of Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) because of what he termed “misleading report by presidential committee under the same ONSA.”
He alleged unjust accusation of almost all institutions and individuals that served the office without fair hearing.
He revealed that the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan achieved a feat through adequate funding of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
He also said the administration mobilised adequately the participating neighbouring countries in additional recruitments of ‘Special M Forces’ that stormed Boko Harams’ camps from the air.
The combined and collaborative security efforts, according to the consultant, weakened Boko Haram terrorists from disrupting 2015 general election which President Muhammadu Buhari eventually won.
Shuaib clarified that at the twilight of Jonathan’s administration, more than 22 towns in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were recovered and confirmed with video and pictorial evidences through military press releases.
According to him, “some of the towns recovered before the coming of President Buhari were Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Bita, Buni Yadi, Damboa, Gamboru Ngala, Goniri, Gujba, Gulani, Gwoza, Hong, Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali, Michika, Monguno, as well as Mubi and many others.
“A clear testimony to some of the accomplishments was the official DHQ release dated March 16, 2015 with reference No: DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI and entitled: “Troops finally rout terrorists from Bama and last stronghold in Yobe.”
Shuaib resigned his appointment after three years serving as media consultant to military, security, intelligence and response organisations under a unified platform.
According to him, “it is mere mischief for the Jon Ode-led panel to indict an umbrella strategic communication outfit that was not involved in partisan politics but provided proofs of its assignment and paid the full taxes demanded by the panel, only for the same panel to turn around and claim nothing was done just few days after an article we published exposing the lies being orchestrated that no weapons were bought by the previous administration for the prosecution of war on terror.
“The panel were even arguing with us on some contents of the published article, forgetting that while most of them were on retirement, we risked our lives by engaging top serving military officers on various security issues and on the field which we disseminate through the media to the public.
“They seemed to be aggrieved with the disclosure in the article that the previous administration bought sophisticated weapons for the military, which included Alpha jets, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, advanced artillery pieces, assorted arms and ammunition, highly sophisticated surveillance drones, T72 battle tanks and modification of F7 supersonic jet fighters.
“I wonder if President Buhari was able to conduct comprehensive background checks on some members of the panel before their appointment.
He continued: “While the Jon Ode led-panel deliberately refuses to acknowledge successes recorded by previous administration in the war on terror, the team has only succeeded in misleading the president with its biased reports that create unnecessary anxiety in the polity.”
Shuaib then queried the rationale behind empowering a panel of procurement of arms that was composed of retired and serving military officers to also be saddled with probing contracts and services that had nothing to do with arms and ammunition.
“My position on incorruptibility and integrity of Buhari is an open secret through my writings over two decades, right from the university days. We stand for Buhari not out of fear as if every Nigerian is a criminal; we love and pray for his success as a national leader.
“We, therefore, urge the president to be wary of vested interests who are clearly capitalising on his sincerity and trust for their own proxy wars.
“We honoured the invitation to serve our nation out of patriotism and we dutifully provided our services as crisis communicators diligently and professionally.
“While acknowledging the moral supports and encouragement from critical stakeholders, we will continue to volunteer, support and render the services responsibly. We would never abandon our clients, partners and friends, especially those who are unduly victimised and vilified,” he said.
He promised to institute legal action in court in order to clear his name and that of the organisation he served from the media trial of indictment being used to unjustly rubbish reputations of institutions and individuals without following the rule of law or due process.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
