President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, a northerner, as new Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has drawn heavy criticism from many Nigerians.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu had in a Thursday evening statement revealed the president’s choice.
Read Also: Buhari Names Bichi New DSS DG, Replaces Jonathan’s Kinsman
A former Governor of Cross River, Donald Duke and former Special Assistant on New Media to President Jonathan, Reno Omokri were among the first set of prominent Nigerians to slam the president’s appointment of Bichi.
Taking to his verified Twitter handle, Duke criticised the appointment as lopsided.
He tweeted:
PMB has just appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as substantive DG SSS. Against the clamour to broaden the heads of our nations security framework, PMB has proven himself an irredeemable irredentist. SAD!!!
— Donald Duke (@Donald_Duke) September 13, 2018
Omokri, a well-known critic of the administration of Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), also condemned the appointment as tilted towards favouring the north.
He tweeted:
I congratulate President @MBuhari for appointing yet another Northerner, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to head the Department of State Security. Whoever doubted Buhari’s 97% versus 7% statement can now see the President is dead set on his Northernisation of government policy #RenosDarts
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 13, 2018
With the appointment of another Northerner, Yusuf Magaji Bichi to heae the Dept of State Security, the safest thing to bet on in @Bet9jaOfficial is that President @MBuhari will always fill any sensitive national intelligence or security position with a Northerner #RenosDarts
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 13, 2018
Other Nigerians also criticised the appointment on allegations of lopsidedness.
See more reactions:
https://twitter.com/SKSolaKuti/status/1040321078512504832?s=19
https://twitter.com/Jefe_says/status/1040331278367817728?s=19
With the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as DSS DG, it has further gone to show that Buhari is nothing but a tribalist with high nepotistic tendency.
Let's unite and vote out Buhari.
— Millionaire BusinessMan 🇨🇦 (@tboss_guy) September 13, 2018
The era of Seiyefa, appointed by Osibanjo as Acting DG of DSS in August, ends.#PMB rather prefers Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
This new appointment appears to lend credence to the belief that certain ethnic 'blood' is required for certain security positions in this era of 97% v 5%.
— friarsomadina (@friarsomadina) September 13, 2018
https://twitter.com/zanzibaries/status/1040324994012729344?s=19
Buhari govt is govt of the North for the North and by the North,AKA Northocracy.This has shown in his past federal appointments and now recently,the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Dss boss.
— TUGREAT (@MOHAMMEDADELEKE) September 13, 2018
Buhari has appointed Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new DSS director.
Bichi hails from Kano State.
I told someone that I would commit suicide if Buhari allows someone from Bayelsa (GEJ's state) to be the director of DSS.
I will not die again.
Buhari still remains a bigot.
Eternal
— 🕊️ Radicalyouthman (@RadicalYouthMan) September 13, 2018
So the federal character principle is at the discretion of whoever is president… Well, the Constitution seems yo have forgotten that part. Or maybe its just to fix in people who will help u win (rig) elections. From INEC to SSS. Yusuf Magaji Bichi
— Precious Ikpang (@PreciousIkpang) September 13, 2018
I was waiting for Buhari to disappoint me in his appointment. But he never disappoints.
Yusuf Magaji Bichi is another quota system appointment. You'll can go to hell…Buhari is here to fight kworruption.
— Anambra 1st son💭 (@UchePOkoye) September 13, 2018
How dare Matthew Seiyeifa of 5% be the DG of DSS when Yusuf Magaji Bichi of 97% is there to serve the nepotistic interest of the ethnic bigot & sectional dictator called Buhari?
— Nwo-Diali PH (@Manlike_ED) September 13, 2018
However, some commentators have commended the president’s choice of Bichi, describing it as “excellent”.
See reactions:
The appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as new Director-General of the State Security Service is an excellent choice. Yes, #FaultFinders are going to find fault, but the new DG is a consummate professional who is & has been a huge asset to Nigeria's intelligence community.
— Mr. Aye Dee (@MrAyeDee) September 13, 2018
If Yusuf Magaji Bichi can do the job with every sense of professionalism and respect for rule of law, please let him do it. NO amount of complaint, kicking or whining can change who or what President Buhari is, I have made peace with this fact. President Buhari is steel.
— UgoBoy™ (@delurxe) September 13, 2018
I really think Nigerians should leave ethnicity out of this Yusuf Magaji Bichi appointment, the question is, is the man qualified? Is he equipped with adequate commonsense? Can he do the job, if he can I really don't think his ethic group he hails from should be up for debate😼
— Foureyed Weirdo (@Joey_Ligero) September 13, 2018