he was not desperate about holding any political appointments in the
country.
Gen Dambazzau, the first Nigeria army chief to hold a PhD degree, and
currently a Senior Visiting Fellow of the Centre for Peace, Democracy and
development, University of Massachusetts, Boston, as well as a fellow and
Associate of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs, Harvard
University, said he is not desperate holding any political appointment.
He however denied that he was in the race for the National Security
Adviser (NSA), a position which was given to retired Major General
Babagana Monguno, on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“What race? There was no race for the office of National Security Adviser
(NSA). And if there was one, I was not a contestant. For very good
reasons, people may have their expectations, but that should not be
translated as mine. Of course I will be glad to work for the President if
he assigned me any task or appoints me in any capacity he feels I can
contribute towards the success of the government. This is especially
because I was the CPC Chairman of the Security Committee in 2011 and he
personally appointed me and also in 2015 as Director, Intelligence and
Security of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.”
“At any rate the President has the prerogative to appoint any person of
his choice to any of the available positions, but in the final analysis it
is God that determines who becomes what. My prayer therefore is for the
Almighty God to guide President Muhammadu Buhari in this very important
task of nation-building He has given him.”
He continued, “My relationship with Mr. President does not hinge on
political appointment. Wether or not he assigns me to a particular
office, my resolve to ensure that he succeeds remains unshakable. He is a
person I highly respect and I am ready to support him throughout his
tenure. I am not doing him a person favour, but I consider it as a duty
to contribute in fixing Nigeria. I have immensely benefitted from Nigeria
after reaching the peak of my career as a General and commanded the army,
and acquired the highest educational qualification (PhD), it is only
reasonable to consider this opportunity as a payback time.”
“I am not unaware of some persons desperate to soil my name, mainly out of
envy. I have built a very good reputation both home and abroad, I doubt
very much if anyone can easily destroy it. Such people should not see me
as an obstacle to their ambition, but like I said earlier, power and
wealth belong to God and He gives whomever He wishes at the timeHe
wishes.”
Before he retired from the army as the 17th Chief of Army Staff, in 2010,
he was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Ibadan. Before
then he was the Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation; a Directing Staff
and Director, Higher Military Organization and Operations at the then
National War College; Principal General Staff Officer (PGSO) to the Hon
Minister, Ministry of Defence; ChiefInstructor, Support Weapons Wing,
Nigeria Army School of Infantry; Academy Registrar, Nigeria Defence
Academy (NDA); Commander, Provost Groups of 3 Division and 1 Division,
respectively.
As a young officer, he served as ADC to the Chief of Army Staff and
special Investigator, Special Investigation Bureau of the Military Police.
Outside the military, he was a part time lecturer in Criminology in the
Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University for about four years. In the last
five years since his retirement, General Dambazau has been engaged in
business as security consultant and estate development. He is also the
Founder and Chairman, Foundation for Victims of Child Abuse (VCAF).