“The National Security Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, is a prince of the Sokoto Caliphate… you hardly hear him or see him throw his weight around…” –Ochereome Nnanna, Vanguard Columnist.

WITHIN a week, last week to be precise, the name of the National Security Adviser to President Jonathan suddenly became an item in opinions and features. Most of them actually wanted him to be visible and outspoken on security activities in the country, especially the barbaric atrocities being committed in a section of the country.

Some respected columnists also questioned the silence of NSA over recent security challenges. Writing under his weekly column in Thisday, Olusegun Adeniyi asked if Sambo Dasuki has a phone number of any editor in Nigeria, while Steve Osuji in his column in The Nation simply asks: “Boko Haram: Where on earth is the NSA.”

I believe some of the assumptions on the person of the NSA were on wrong premises. Since they are not faceless writers, their articles were well-intentioned and wakeup calls on security situation in the country. This writer has memorable encounter with Sambo Dasuki by virtue of being a syndicate writer. Sometimes last year this writer honoured an invitation to speak at a Media Seminar organised by Belgium Embassy for top security spokespersons and media practitioners. In fact, Gen. Chris Olukolade of Defence Headquarters, Frank Mba of the Nigeria Police, Dapo Olorunyomi of Premium Times, Manir Dan Ali of Trust and Online bloggers including Tolu Ogunlesi and Japheth Omojuwa, were also in attendance. After the session, I penned my experience in an article on Debating Government Media Relations which was widely published.

A week later, I received an invitation from a top security officer to meet the NSA. Having being careful of avoiding any ‘wahala’, I have been very conscious of my writings on security. While I asked for the prayers of my family for safety, I did online search on Sambo Dasuki.

What I found out were revealing: Former Military Governor of Kaduna, Col. Udangiwa Umar in an interview with Punch narrated how he and Dasuki attempted to install Chief MKO Abiola, the winner of June 12 election before the action was aborted. He also disclosed how they jointly confronted General Sani Abacha from playing hanky-panky with Nigeria’s destiny.

Along the line, Dasuki escaped from Nigeria and lived in exile when he was hunted for his audacity and refusal to take an offer in the administration of General Sani Abacha. His millionaire father, Ibrahim Dasuki who was the Sultan of Sokoto, the most powerful traditional ruler in Northern Nigeria, was deposed by Abacha and banished to Kaduna for the ‘sin’ of his forthright son. The father, who clocked 90 year last year, is still alive.

All his life, as a royal prince, Dasuki has never been ambitious and would rather take a bow than play dirty. He voluntarily resigned his appointment as Managing Director of Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) when he was not comfortable with President Olusegun Obasanjo’s attempt to privatise the firm against security implications.

The American trained security strategist, was also Aide-de-camp (ADC) to Military President Ibrahim Babangida. At the time of his appointment in June 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan, the Boko Haram insurgency was very active in Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Niger, Kogi and most states in the North-East with attempted incursion towards Southern parts of the country. Presently, the activities of insurgents have been restricted to few states in the North-East. An active advocate of constructive dialogue and engagement with different groups towards peaceful resolution of crises, he nevertheless, believes decisive and aggressive confrontation are inevitable against rampaging and brutal undesirable elements.

After online search, I sought the advice of members of Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM) where I was once the Secretary. The verdict was similar: Sambo Dasuki doesn’t believe in cheap publicity; he will rather expand resources in facilitating positive public perception on other security arms. He does have occasional interactions with publishers as well as hold sessions with critical media stakeholders. In such encounters, he openly and sincerely expressed his positions and the reality on the ground, while charging his audience to be responsible and responsive in their information against undermining national security and national interest. A stickler to time, he can never be late to any event. In fact, most time, I learnt, he arrived long before the commencement of events.

With these information, I had the courage to honour the invitation. To my comfort I wasn’t the only person invited to the meeting. There were some activists and members of NGOs too. When he looked at me, he asked: “Why are you very critical in your write-ups?”

I responded that writing is my hobby and PR is my profession. I am therefore conscious of whatever I write. At the end, he appealed to us to be fair and kind in our comments and writings and that we should always consider the nation first. He urged us to always channel our grievances and recommendations on national issues to appropriate authorities including his office whenever necessary.

Dasuki is polished and eloquent as he talks passionately about the Office of the President which he believes “deserves the respect of every Nigerian as the symbol of our nation and integrity.” He holds the view that there is nothing wrong with opposition politics if it is geared towards the sustenance of democracy and devoid of destructive antics that may create confusion and security breaches in the land.

Since then I have interfaced with some of the NGOs and Media towards a better understanding of security operation in the country. The recent inauguration of Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) under his office has so far reduced to the barest minimum the inter-agency rivalry in information management and encouraged designated security spokespersons to be proactive and timely in providing updates on security situations.

Professional security strategists do not need to be garrulous to prove that they are working but must work behind the scene to facilitate accomplishment of tasks. In fact, respected Intelligence chiefs all over the world do not make much noise in the public because of the sensitive nature of their assignments.

YUSHAU SHUAIB,  a public affairs commentaor, wrote from Abuja.