DSS Replacement of Tinubu’s Chief Security Officer Sparks Controversy

The Department of State Services (DSS) decision to replace Adegboyega Fasasi, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to President Bola Tinubu, has stirred significant debate in intelligence and political circles in Abuja. The new DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, recently withdrew Fasasi and appointed Rasheed Lawal, a deputy director, as his replacement.

While the move is seen as part of the ongoing DSS reorganization under Ajayi, some critics view it as a politically motivated attempt to diminish the influence of the outgoing CSO. Allegations have surfaced claiming the redeployment is a strategic effort to undermine Fasasi’s political clout, prompting vows from certain quarters to reverse the decision.

Supporters of the move, however, argue that it aligns with efforts to restore professionalism within the service. Sources disclosed that Fasasi, promoted twice last year under former DSS D-G Mr. Bichi, had not completed the necessary professional courses for his current position. The reassignment to attend a professional course is viewed as a measure to address this gap and maintain the standards expected in the DSS.

Some intelligence sources also compared the move to averting scenarios similar to the Major Al-Mustapha episode during Sani Abacha’s regime, where personnel operated beyond the service’s traditional roles.

A DSS insider dismissed claims of a witch-hunt, asserting that the replacement is widely supported as a step toward enhancing the efficiency of the presidency’s security apparatus. The source suggested the deployment aims to resolve issues like the bureaucratic bottlenecks highlighted in a recent interview by Senator Ali Ndume, without compromising Fasasi’s career trajectory.