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Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
1 month ago
Overview
Marwa fights for second term as five rivals close in
About two months to the end of his tenure, at least five contenders have reportedly joined the race to succeed the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.). The development is unfolding as Marwa, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, is reportedly lobbying for another five-year term.
Marwa, who is now 72 years old, was appointed NDLEA Chairman on January 17, 2021, by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. A top official in one of the security agencies, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “The tenure of Marwa will end in about two months, with stakeholders divided on whether he should be allowed a second term or not.
“So far, five people are aspiring to succeed him, including some retired military and police officers, security chiefs, and lawyers. “Although Marwa is entitled to a second term, those after his job cited old age and President Bola Tinubu’s desire for reform in the agency for their aspiration.” The identities of those jostling for Marwa’s position, however, were not disclosed when asked by The PUNCH.
Marwa’s recent visit to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday was reportedly part of ongoing efforts to secure a renewal of his appointment. Some stakeholders opposed to his continuation as NDLEA Chairman have reportedly recommended him for an ambassadorial posting instead. Three key factors cited for seeking Marwa’s replacement are his age, Tinubu’s ongoing reform agenda, and the preference for a seasoned law enforcement officer, either retired or still in active service, to head the agency.
The top security official told The PUNCH that the debate over Marwa’s reappointment was tied to wider justice sector reforms being championed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
“Among the agencies in the justice sector, only the NDLEA has not undergone restructuring,” another official familiar with the matter noted, adding that the President aims to strengthen the rule of law, human rights, and access to justice through reforms across institutions such as the NDLEA, Nigerian Correctional Service, Code of Conduct Bureau, and Legal Aid Council.
The government official also hinted that intelligence assessments identified the NDLEA as needing “surgical reforms,” especially over alleged bureaucratic bottlenecks, promotion irregularities, and low prosecution rates.
“In spite of Marwa’s above-average performance, he has been seen as a lone ranger. The NDLEA bureaucracy is stifling the war against drugs,” one insider in the agency told The PUNCH.
More: https://punchng.com/marwa-fights-for-second-term-as-five-rivals-close-in/
