The Ben Lion Heart Vanguard, a non-governmental organization, has called for a former Minister of Interior and Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General, Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd), to be appointed as minister of defence to supervise the Nigerian military and nation’s security architecture.
The organization made the call to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement in Abuja, describing Gen. Danbazzau (retd) as an officer whose loyalty to the Nigerian State, constitution and national security has remained impeccable.
Mr. Ben Willam, the Director of the organisation, who is retired air force officer and security consultant, said that providing Gen. Dambazzau the opportunity to serve, the former minister of interior would provide professional oversight on security as he harnesses the military resource he understands very well, to stabilize Nigeria internally and otherwise.
“Nigeria needs a patriot at this time to carry out purposeful security oversight with surgical precision to ensure the safety of Nigerians and their property. The antecedent of Gen. Dambazzau commands respect from all arms of the military as these officers across military arms know that the quality and character of the Danbazzau was fit for defence assignment, this they said was critical,” Willam said.
He said that this has consistently featured in the period of service across various commands of the former minister of interior while serving in the military.
He said that Gen. Danbazzau’s positive impact in the various command and public offices he held have remained a footprint of reference in good and exemplary leadership and he did not perform less as minister of interior in institutional/public administration.
He said, “For example, the former minister of interior created a situation room for the coordination activities of all security and public safety agencies, for a seamless response to emergencies, anywhere they may arise.
“Another footprint was that he led the US-Nigeria Security Sector Initiatives for the reforms of the security sector in response to emergencies, defence procurements, and activities in the northeast.”
He also said that in the bid to promote food security, Danbazzau created the agro rangers in the Civil Defence Corps for the protection of agricultural investments for individuals, groups and institutions against attacks from bandits and other criminals.
“He also served with respect for the codes as Director Staff at the then National War College from 2004 – 2006. Later, he became the Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the same Institution in 2006. His excellence here earned him the highly revered appellation of the Fellow of the War College Dagger.
“Lt.-Gen. Dambazau has also held several staff appointments, being staff officer at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps of Military in 1979 before he became an aide-de-camp to the then Chief of Army Staff.
“He was also a Special Investigator at the Special investigation Bureau of the NACMP from 1984-1985 amongst other appointments,” he said.
He added that Danbazau is a military officer with deep interest in intellectualism which played out in his life as an officer who elected for further study to improve and earned for himself Ph.D in Criminology, a knowledge that has helped him serve the country better in various capacities.
