New dawn in intelligence: The Tosin Ajayi story – Dr. Muiz Banire

‘It is better late than never’ is an aphorism we are all accustomed to. On the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR and the consequent repositioning of the security apparatus or architecture, the expectation was that there would be total replacement of the guards. Beyond the military service chiefs, the Nigerian police headship and that of the intelligence agencies, particularly the State Security Service (SSS) were areas of interest to the people. Disappointedly, while the sweeping changes went across all the other agencies, the intelligence sector was left untouched.

This indiscretion, if I may couch it that way, was viewed by the citizens as the palpable cause of the lack of traction in the intelligence of the country. Realistically, there is only so much that the other security agencies can do without effective intelligence in place. For some of us, reactionary movements by the other security agencies can never solve the security challenges of a country. The basic responsibility of the SSS is to gather intelligence and nip any eventual disturbance, particularly crime in the bud. In the years past, the secret service only concentrated on this mandate without any form of distraction. The operatives were hardly identifiable to the public as they terminated their operations with sister agencies that they interfaced with.
Overtime, however, the operations of the secret service had to be extended into combat operations. This is not unconnected with the reality of sabotage by other sister agencies. The secret service uncovered that most of the intelligence passed to other sister agencies often leaked out to the potential criminals, at times, with the catastrophic effect of the criminals ambushing the operatives and causing fatalities. It was at that point that the execution of the intelligence by way of action had to then be the lots of the secret service, simply to avert the bungling of such intelligence. This explains and justifies why in recent times you see the personnel of the secret service, not only in uniform but also visibly.

Even at that, the Secret Service still struggles to masquerade these officials by masking them up. Notwithstanding the above, as I opined above, there has been, and continued to be substantial failure of intelligence in the country for several reasons. Apart from the fact that the capacity development of the officials has dwindled, the inadequacy of personnel, coupled with the motivational package challenge, remains vital concerns. As a matter of urgency, therefore, the task ahead of the new Director General of the Secret Service and the government, by extension, is the immediate and aggressive recruitment of more personnel. This must be complimented by enhanced capacity development programs. The rationale behind this, as inferable from my remarks above, is that it is cheaper in the long term to prevent crimes, than reacting or responding to commission of crimes. The narrative is comparable to that between environmental health and clinical health.
Any slight investment in environmental health results in substantial savings in clinical health expenses. Thus, the more investment in intelligence, the cheaper the responses to crimes become. In all civilized communities, intelligence continuously trumps reactionary measures or counter-attacks. The continuous rise and proliferation of crimes in the country is not unconnected with the poor intelligence in the country. As indicated earlier, there is little that the combat forces can do in the face of poor/leaking intelligence. However, the point must be quickly made that regardless of the quantum of investment in the intelligence, without human capacity, especially good and competent leadership, the drains await such investments. I am not too sure that this has been the lot of the service in recent times.
I agree that experience matters in everything but not in the face of dynamism, agility and motivation. How much contemporary are the old officials in the face of continuously developing turbulent world? To what extent are they still physically fit to execute assignments? How motivational is their continuous stay or return from retirement? These are debilitating and militating factors against the efficiency of the service, and which must be eschewed. It is in the light of this that the sudden announcement of Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, MON, as the new Director General of the DSS is a welcome development and gladdens a lot of citizens’ heart, particularly the stakeholders in the intelligence sector. To most stakeholders in the intelligence world, this appointment will appear to be belated, that which speaks to, and validates the title of this discourse. It is, however, better late than never. Although to a large extent, things have fallen apart, but knowing the pedigree of the appointee gives one some hopes. I would not say that I know the appointee so much in terms of regular or routine rapport, but his reputation always precedes him whenever he goes.
The truth is that I have had some degree of interactions with him over time, which is a sufficient pedestal for me to comment on him; coupled with my interface with the service, which places me in a vantage position to x-ray him. Years back, under the headship of Ekpeyong Ita, I was privileged to have several engagements and interface with the service particularly at the middle level then, but majority of whom are now at the management level. I thank him for the opportunity. Thereafter, the service never saw the need for the collaboration, thereby depriving the upcoming officials of the joy of the interactions we had then. As the Yoruba say, arise ni arika, arika ni baba iregun. It is favours done that one counts, yet counting begets conceit. The consequence of the cessation of the interface is part of what accounts for what the country is experiencing today.
With this background therefore, let me unequivocally state once again that this is another appointment made by the President that deserves commendation and earns him a laurel. As I said earlier, the service and other stakeholders expected this appointment at the entry point of Mr. President but it did not happen. Majority of the stakeholders already gave up hope as the retirement time of the appointee was itching near. I am not familiar with the appointee for the headship of the National Intelligence Agency but I reckon that he must have some track records too. Even, without my knowledge of him, I can vouch that the intelligence in the country is geared for a new turn, and a new dawn with Tosin Ajayi.
For the benefit of those that are unfamiliar with the gentleman, he enlisted into the service in the year 1990. Since then, due to his sharp intelligence, he has served the Service in several capacities, which of interest to me is the secondment/appointment as the first Assistant Director, Internal Security, during the tenure of Col. Kayode Are, (Rtd.), in the Obasanjo administration. In that capacity, he coordinated the sting operation that led to the erasure of MASSOB, the movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra, thus neutralizing the threat of the then emerging menace.
The threat never reared its head till date again, and I recall this earned him the award of national honours. I recall also that he was posted to the Rivers State at the height of militancy and cultism in the State and the Niger Delta region at that time. During his service as the Director in charge of the State Command in Bauchi under the Ekpeyong Ita’s tenure, he assiduously worked to prevent the spread of the Boko Haram surge to Bauchi State in the North East. Outside these landmarks, the appointee served as Director in Enugu, Bayelsa and Kogi Commands. I need not bore you with the accomplishments in those States, and as my people, the Yoruba people, will say, iroyin o to a fojuba which literally means eye witness account is the best evidence. Only those in the States can attest to his efficiency and impacts in their lives as per the state of security in their various States.
To the appointee, the country owes a lot of gratitude and indebtedness for the effective coordination and execution of several undercover operations in the country, failure of which could have destabilized the polity. The appointee is a very smart, brilliant, efficient and disciplined officer, not gifted to scavenging. I can, to a large extent, say that the work and accomplishments of Tosin earned him the job. He certainly lacks lobbying skills. I wonder how the names surfaced to the President as I know him to be a person, not grounded in lobbying, particularly amongst politicians. To his colleagues, he never even lobbied for mere posting within the Service. That this is the caliber of a person the country desires at this critical point, is an understatement. On behalf of the President and the country at large, I thank God for the wisdom granted in unveiling this patriotic Nigerian for usage. Tosin is an intelligence guru and a sound professional, highly versatile and humble to a fault. He ever remains a focus person that maintains his lane. I have not found him to be a social parasite nor a predator. He is, to the best of my knowledge, a real secret service agent that upholds the principles, ethics and standards of the Service. A scandal-free officer he is.
That his appointment is long-awaited can be seen in the jubilation by officers, ranks and file of the Department. Both the past and current staff hail him. Undoubtedly, the expectations are high and one can but only hope that he will get the necessary support from, not only the staff of the service but members of the other sister agencies. Owo kan o gbe eru d’ori (a heavy load is never lifted with one hand).
Effective collaboration and coordination are key. The duo of Tosin and the Inspector General of Police can perform some wonders as I know, materialism does not govern their lives. Mr President, while commending you once again for unveiling to us this wonderful and upright professional, we plead for all the required support for him in the interest of all of us. Irorun igi, ni irorun eiye (the peace of the tree is the peace of the bird). Gone are the days when the secret staff officers freelanced in all arenas, and special agents were enlisted; all these bother on funding. Obe to dun, owo lo pa (a delicious dish is prepared with money). The man is already a resourceful young man with an impeccable profile, all he needs is State resources to perform. My brother, Tosin, I wish you a successful and remarkable tenure in office. May the grace and beneficence of God continue to abide with you. We will be with you in prayers.