A groundswell lobby has put President Bola Tinubu under pressure to retain Adegboyega Fasasi, the Chief Security Officer (CSO), against his redeployment.
Fasasi, a Department of State Service (DSS) director, was recently withdrawn by the new Director-General of the agency, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, and replaced with Rasheed Lawal, deputy director in the service.
Part of the reasons for the withdrawal of the CSO is the approval for him to undergo a routine professional training required in the service from time to time.
It was gathered that in the last one year, Fasasi got promoted twice and therefore the new DSS boss saw it necessary for him to also have the requisite professional training needed to enhance his job.
Daily Sun gathered that since Fasasi’s redeployment was announced, intense lobbying has been mounted to get President Tinubu to overrule the DSS DG.
Sources revealed that prominent Nigerians, including ministers, members of the National Assembly and top politicians, especially those who believed that the former CSO was key to their access to the President, have been lobbying for the cancellation of his redeployment.
It was gathered that most of the lobbyists tried to present a picture that Fasasi’s withdrawal was a witchhunt and an orchestrated attempt to reduce his stature.
Daily Sun gathered that a minister, who is in the inner caucus of Tinubu’s government, is spearheading the lobby for Fasasi to remain in office and has boasted that he would get Tinubu to overrule the DSS DG.
The minister is said to have promised Fasasi that he would be retained as he would speak with Tinubu on his behalf.
The minister is also said to have assured some others he recommended to President Tinubu that they would not be touched in the ongoing restructuring of the federal cabinet as he has the ear of the president.
However, counter-arguments, it was gathered, have also offered to the effect that redeployment in the service was routine and a part of a programme to promote versatility and discipline.
Also, those who supported the redeployment said that capacity building, which is anchored on training, promotes efficiency and professionalism, Daily Sun gathered.
Sources also revealed that President Tinubu is trying to succumb to the pressure, which may see Fasasi staying on his job till January 2025 when he would proceed to a post-graduate course.
From now until January 2025, it was gathered, the CSO may remain in office and taken as handling over period.
Sources revealed that Fasasi was at his duty post yesterday.
