The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon in Oyo State, Oba Francis Alao, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restructure the nation’s security architecture and choose an expert in counter-terrorism as his National Security Adviser (NSA).
Oba Alao said the next NSA should be an expert with vast experience in counter-terrorism and a player in the international security space.
In a statement, the monarch, who is also the Deputy Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, noted that terrorism has bedeviled the nation to the extent that it can no longer afford to lose its citizens, including security personnel.
The statement reads,
“My advice to the President on choosing the National Security Adviser (NSA) is that the Mr. President should appoint someone with security intelligence skill and professionalism, either with military or DSS or NIA background.
“Aside the traditional function of coordinating national security and reporting directly to the President on all matters of security, the Office of the NSA is the clearing house for all matters related to counter-terrorism.
“Nigeria is bedeviled by all forms of security challenges. As far as terrorism is concerned, Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb has operations in Nigeria; so are ISWAP, Boko Haram, and other smaller cells of other terrorist groups. These are run by the military. We cannot afford to waste any more time in bringing our insecurity under control and checking terrorist activities.
“We need competent hands in this area – multi-layered stakeholder engagements in this sphere – will be key. International collaboration will be essential. We must have people who have been active in this space, internationally, so that we can lean on their expertise and contacts to get our security under control.”
Oba Alao urged the President to give priority to competence and capacity but also ensure ethnic and religious balance in appointment of security chiefs in his administration.
“Mr. President needs to balance religion and ethnicity along with competence.
The Buhari administration appointed over 80 per cent of Muslims and Nigerians of northern origin to manage the security architecture. For balancing, I do not see the reason why President Tinubu should not appoint more people from the southern part of Nigeria into top security positions for purpose of justice, equity and unity,” the Olugbon said.
To run an effective and responsive administration, Oba Alao also advised the President a few people, popularly called the “cabal”, from capturing the machinery of governance.