Jonathan mulls return of Gusau as NSA

A rumor with legs?

Daily Trust

19 September 2011

Jonathan mulls return of Gusau as NSA

Habeeb I. Pindiga

General Aliyu Gusau may bounce back as National Security Adviser if he accepts overtures from President Jonathan, who is himself under pressure from the West to bring back the former NSA because of the country's recent security problems, government sources told Daily Trust in Abuja.

Gusau served as NSA for seven years till 2006 during the tenure of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. He was reappointed by the then acting president Jonathan on March 8 last year and resigned six months later on September 10, 2010. He was replaced by the current NSA, retired General Andrew Azazi, a close ally of President Goodluck Jonathan.

A security source told Daily Trust that the United States and other Western nations have been putting pressure on Jonathan to find lasting solutions to the violent crises in the country, particularly the Boko Haram issue. The source said the West wants Gusau reappointed, because they believe he is capable of tackling the crises.