Opposition To Daura’s Appointment Borne Out Of Ignorance – Ex-DSS DG, Gadzama

LAWAN-DAURAA former Director General of Department of State Service, DSS, Afakriya Gadzama has called for an end to the ongoing political squabble over the appointment of Alhaji Lawal Musa Daura as the DSS boss.

Gadzama, who was head of the service between 2007 and 2010, in a press statement issued yesterday, noted with dismay what he described as “unnecessary politicization of what otherwise is an appointment done in the interest of the service”.

The former DSS DG said competence, rather than political affiliation as being speculated in some quarters, paved the way for the emergence of Daura as the new DG of the service.

“Political affiliation was definitely not a factor. What mattered was the competence of the appointee and the need to re-position the service. The president definitely wouldn’t have appointed somebody who doesn’t have the capacity and shares his vision”, he explained.

The appointment of the new DSS DG has been condemned by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has accused Daura of being a card carrying member of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC.

Gadzama, who described Daura as an experienced officer, said, “It is on record that Alhaji Daura is an experienced officer who has demonstrated exceptional competence throughout his service years. He held several command appointments in volatile states such as Kano, Edo and Borno. His performance in these states was exceptional. He also brought to bear his experience in security practice and management while directing staff in the several DSS training schools.”

While describing the orchestrated media campaign against the new SSS DG as unnecessary and ill-informed, Gadzama said the impression that only serving officers can be appointed to head the service is fallacious and borne out of ignorance.

“The world over, the head of intelligence and related services are chosen from the pool of serving or retired officers. What matters is the competence of the person to be appointed. The case of Alhaji Daura is therefore perfectly in order”, Gadzama declared.