Nigeria

Presidency keeps mum over NSA Monguno, Abba Kyari's dispute

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM by Wale Akinola

- The presidency has refused to comment on the dispute between NSA Monguno and Abba Kyari

- Monguno had in a leaked memo accused Kyari of interfering with issues of national security

- The NSA also asked the service chiefs to stop taking directives from Abba Kyari

A report by Channels TV indicates that there is an uneasy calm in the presidency following the revelation of a dispute between Abba Kyari, the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno.

Legit.ng reports that in a leaked memo sent to the service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, with the president and the chief of staff, as well as some ministers in the copy, the NSA accused Kyari of usurping the powers of the president and interfering on issues of national security.

Monguno explained that many gains recorded in the effort to secure the nation were being undermined owing to the interference of Kyari who allegedly presides over meetings with service chiefs, heads of security agencies and diplomatic officials in the absence of the NSA.

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He, therefore, directed the security chiefs not to take orders from the chief of staff as he is not the head of the security forces, neither has he sworn an oath to defend the country.

Presidency keeps mum over NSA Monguno, Abba Kyari's dispute — Abba Kyari and NSA Monguno
Source: UGC

According to Channels TV, sources in the presidency, however, kept mum over the matter when attempts were made to get their response.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Monguno accused Kyari of undue interference on matters bordering on national security.

Monguno said Kyari’s directives to service chiefs were sometimes issued without the knowledge, much less approval of the president, a practice he said has added to the government’s inability to contain insecurity.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, February 17, reacted to the disagreement between Monguno and the chief of staff, describing it as a national tragedy.