Attempts by some “hawks in the presidency” to use the immediate past national coordinator on counter-terrorism, Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim, as a scapegoat amidst insecurity in the country may have backfired.
A national daily had reported that President Goodluck Jonathan had quietly sacked Ambassador Ibrahim following the spate of bombings in the country.
The newspaper had also quoted the presidency as having appointed the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, General Sarki-Yaki, as a possible replacement for Ambassador Ibrahim.
However, an aide to Ibrahim said his boss left office a long time ago, describing the report as one planted by some hawks in the presidency to discredit his boss.
The source who spoke with LEADERSHIP last night said: “The story announcing the sack of Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim as national coordinator on counter-terrorism was very mischievous; my boss left office on his own on May 30, 2011 – a day after President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office.
“In fact, the president had written him (Ambassador Ibrahim) a letter of commendation for his meritorious services to his fatherland and uncommon sense of duty and commitment with which he discharged his services to the nation as senior special assistant to him.”
The source added that President Jonathan also assured the former adviser on counter-terrorism that the federal government would continue to build on his good work and hoped that he would always stand ready to avail his country of his unique creative and productive attributes whenever his services may be needed.
“How can Mr. President sack somebody who left office on May 30, 2011, voluntarily this week? Those who planted the story have failed in their mission,” Ambassador Ibrahim’s aide stated.
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