"Jonathan Is A Weak President" - Gen. Andrew Azazi,Sacked National Security Adviser

Owoeye Azazi

Former National Security Adviser, NSA, has reacted to his sacking yesterday by President Goodluck Jonathan with shock and disbelief, and called Jonathan a soft president. He however expressed hope that the action would bring an end to the serioussecurity challenges facing the country. In a statement through his Media spokesman,Mike Awe,Azazi said Jonathan failed to heed his counsel on how to confront Boko haram.





President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sacked the National Security Adviser, NSA, General Andrew Owoeye Azazi and the Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello. He named Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd, as the new NSA.  Dasuki was former Aid- de-Cmap, ADC, to General Ibrahim Babangida.

But reacting to the sacking, Media spokesman to Azazi, Mike Awe,  said: "The government appointed him and has asked him to go. The President is under political pressure and not everything is classified and made public. When NSA asked that Buhari be invited for questioning, Jonathan kicked against it. When he suggested that some people be brought in and questioned, he kicked against it saying it is a ploy to scatter his government. So, really, it’s all about the president’s softness (weakness) but he appointed him and he has removed him."

Earlier yesterday, heads of security agencies led by the former NSA, General Azazi had briefed President Jonathan on his arrival from Brazil on the security situation in the country while he was away for a meeting of the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development.

The meeting which held behind closed doors was meant to bring the President up to date with the security situation in the country.

Responding to reporters’ questions at the end of the meeting, Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade, said:  “He (President) didn’t feel too happy about the loss of lives and he feels that we need to do something proactively to stop it at all cost.”

On what prompted the emergency meeting, the minister said it was not unusual, adding:” It’s the usual security meeting with the C-In-C (Commander In Chief), to look at things in a comprehensive manner and see how the security agencies are fairing. It was a useful discussion.

“Certain areas where we have problems, how to tackle them, how the security agencies can be more effective, the role the populace have to play in assisting the war against terror.”

On additional measures contemplated, Olubolade said: “Yes, the measures we have been taking before now, we have to re-appraise and look at how the populace can be carried along to get more information so that peace can return to the land. We do not really have to kill Nigerians to sustain peace. C-in-C believes that we need to talk, we need to ensure that we do what is right to ensure that we calm down the nerves and these incessant bombings are minimised. It is a source of worry to all.”

Gen. Azazi simply said: ”The situation is under control.”

Those present at the meeting included Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Minister of Defence, Haliru Bello.

Other security chiefs present at the meeting included the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin; Chief of Army Staff, CAOS, General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Mohammed Umar and the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.