The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria has described the unfounded rumours and various sponsored campaign of calumny against the Director General of the DSS, Mallam Yusuf Bichi as an attempt by mischief makers to smear his name.
The group in a statement signed by it’s Convener and Secretary, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi and Barrister John Atani, described the detractors and some highly partisan purveyors of those fake news and false narratives against Mallam Bichi and most importantly the
Department of State Services (DSS), as visionless and unpatriotic attention seekers.
One of such sponsored propaganda, is the myopic insinuation that the Director General siphoned an imaginary payment of Thirty-five thousand naira (₦35, 000) meant for the payment of wages approved by President Bola Tinubu for personnel of the service, while an average Nigerian knows that the statement is a figment of the imagination of the enemies of this great Country and criminal elements who are afraid of the work of the Service. The personnel of the DSS have been enjoying an improved welfare package since the assumption of office of Mallam Bichi. While it’s a statement of fact that the personnel of DSS cannot be classified as Civil servant rather a security organization rendering essential services to the nation. Staff welfare, allowances and packages has been one of the cardinal programmes of Mallam Yusuf Bichi, hence we condemn this insidious attempt to cause disaffection within the service and it’s leadership.
This is to also condemn the activities of a certain, Jackson Ude who on his X (Twitter) handle @jacksonpnb, posted, accused the person and office of the DSS Director-General Mallam Yusuf Bichi of increasing an imaginary “goodbye allowance” for outgoing DG from N120million to N200million.
According to him Bichi would pocket N200million as he prepares to leave the agency he had once retired from.
Ude insisted that the operatives are angry at the level of corruption under Bichi, maintained that it is the worst in the history of the DSS especially with the involvement of his wife and other family members in contracts in the spy agency.
But the Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria said the allegations is baseless, careless and unfounded and should not be taking serious by any discerning mind. The said Jackson Ude is on a voyage of self destruction and he does not care to drag an innocent soul into the mud with him.
The group maintained that, Under Mallam Yusuf Bichi, the DSS operates within the bounds of the law and adheres to international best practices because he is an astute and versatile administrator, a resourceful, a highly detribalized Nigerian, an Intelligence Officer of immense repute and more importantly a transparent and prudent leader,.who possesses a high level of experience and exposure that has no doubt repositioned and made the Service one that Nigerians and the personnel are proud of.
The Coalition urges the said Ude and all other sponsored characters and their team to desist from tampering with the credibility of Mallam Yusuf Bichi whose tenure have witnessed tremendous progressive changes and reforms in the Services.
In concluding the Coalition reiterated that, it’s a statement of fact that Mallam Yusuf Bichi and the DSS enjoys a high level of confidence from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian populace, and what Mallam Yusuf Bichi and the DSS deserves from Nigerians are accolades, and not mudslinging and wicked propaganda from highly partisan characters.
