馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Former DSS Assistant Director Dennis Amachree on General Sani Abacha's belief in invincibility and civilian presidency plans
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, states in his memoir, "DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield," that the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, believed he was invincible. Amachree highlights that despite extensive security, Abacha's death underscores the transient nature of power. He questions why prominent figures allegedly propagated conflicting accounts of Abacha's death, viewing this as indicative of a broader issue of misinformation and lack of accountability in Nigeria, which he argues has hindered the country's progress. Amachree also recalls that before his death in June 1998, Abacha was reportedly planning to transition from a military ruler to a civilian president, having perfected plans for self-succession by forming political parties that adopted him as their presidential candidate, creating the impression of a democratic transition while serving his political ambition.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Nigeria's Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa retd., announced his intention to take legal action against individuals circulating rumors of his resignation. Following a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Musa stated he was "shocked" by the reports and denied any plans to resign. He described the rumors as a deliberate attempt to undermine public confidence in the administration's improving security record. Musa clarified that his meeting with the President was a routine security briefing, during which President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the military's performance. He also called for continued civilian cooperation with security forces to combat terrorism and banditry, highlighting that such support has been massive and is contributing to improving security.
President Bola Tinubu has extended congratulations to Andy Burnham on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, President Tinubu expressed confidence that Prime Minister Burnham's administration would deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the UK. The President also felicitated with the Government and people of the United Kingdom on their peaceful leadership transition, reflecting the strength of their democratic institutions. Tinubu recalled his productive engagement with the immediate past British Prime Minister during his Official Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026 and expressed optimism that Prime Minister Burnham would build on these achievements. He looks forward to engaging with the new British leader through bilateral and multilateral platforms, particularly under the Commonwealth, to advance the interests of both countries. The Federal Government of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining close ties with the UK and wished Prime Minister Andy Burnham a successful tenure, assuring him of Nigeria's readiness to work closely with his administration on shared priorities and global challenges. Nigeria and the United Kingdom have longstanding diplomatic, political, and economic relations dating back to Nigeria鈥檚 independence in 1960, with the UK remaining a key trading and
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