It baffles and often aches me how we got to this level of social media degeneracy in which publications are let loose in their wildest representations. Cautions are now thrown overboard on issues that require facts with zero consideration for the readers' intelligence. The situation becomes more unfortunate when one is the subject of writing. A post alleging that the Director-General State Services (DGSS), Yusuf Bichi, CFR embezzled palliative funds meant for the personnel of the Secret Service is already making the rounds on social media. However, a close friend who works in that organization revealed that no such funds have been received by the DSS. This makes me wonder how people like Jackson Ude who posted the defamatory piece on X feel comfortable writing untruths about others.
I was further made to know that the social media publication was a handiwork of some unscrupulous and over-ambitious high-ranking officers in the DSS who seek to occupy the seat of the DGSS. The way they have chosen to achieve their goal is character assassination. This is done to cause the disaffection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR against the DG. What they fail to realize is that Tinubu is such an intelligent personality who doesn't act or take decisions based on hearsay but on facts before him. Has anyone wondered why Tinubu reappointed Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)? Mr President has seen the new wave in the NNPCL since its incorporation as a public limited company under the leadership of Kyari, possibly the reason he felt he should continue as the helmsman.
It was reliably gathered that personnel of the DSS have never had it rosy in terms of welfare like Bichi's time. Both serving and retired staff are said to enjoy better welfare package. Some of Bichi's friends I spoke with attested to his integrity and incorruptible principles, daring anyone to check his service records. If Jackson Ude is really a journalist, he should do his research well next time before writing on issues he knows nothing about. I see him as a lazy journalist who is harmful to the society.
Another insider told me that those engaging in the campaign of calumny against the DGSS are those who have reached the peak of their career and who feel are not favoured by the natural course of career progression. The characters are said to be easily given away by the writing style of the Secret Service which creeps into their flow of thought. I believe the DSS has a way of unmasking veiled traducers as their activities are detrimental to human judgment.
By: Felix Ogundairo