Buhari’s biographer reveals why Buhari will keep Dasuki in detention

Buhari’s biographer Professor Paden in his book about the president explained why former national security adviser Dasuki will be kept in detention

– The professor said that as Buhari wanted to be remembered for the fight against corruption he would punish all culprits

– Mr. Paden also ruled out the personal relations between duo as the reason of Dasuki’s  detention

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court has on October 4, Tuesday ordered Nigerian government to release former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki.

Dasuki, one of the officials of the government of Goodluck Jonathan, is facing trial for misappropriation of over $15 billion fund meant for the purchase of the arms and other equipment to fight Boko Haram insurgents.

Federal government while explaining why ex-NSA was not released despite the ECOWAS judgment said that the Nigerian authorities need to study it before taking any decision.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari’s biographer, John Paden, who presented his book “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges of Leadership in Nigeria” on October 3, Monday, hinted that Dasuki’s release from detention may not happen soon.

Mr. Paden in chapter 15 of the book, which focuses on ‘Military Procurement Accountability’, stated that the president believed in confronting to the end any act of corruption that will undermine the integrity of the Nigerian army.

He writes: “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,” Paden added.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the professor denied personal or political relations as a reason for former NSA’s continuous detention.

Paden added: “It is beyond the scope of this study to assess all the back stories of the relationship between Buhari and Dasuki. Suffice it to say that the so-called grudge between the two has never really existed.

“Dasuki is twelve years younger than Buhari, even though Dasuki did participate in the 1985 countercoup. The family of Ibrahim Dasuki and the Buhari extended family have been linked by marriage for more than four decades.

“In addition, in his inaugural address, Buhari had professed that although ‘the past is prologue’, he had no time to pursue alleged ‘enemies.”

“Other personal relationships in play included Buhari’s relationship with Jonathan’s Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and Buhari’s relationship with General Babangida, who has played such a ubiquitous role in Fourth Republic politics.

“Yet the real story probably has little to do with personal or political relationships.”