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Marilyn Ogar: DSS or PDP spokesperson

Published by The Nation on Thu, 28 Aug 2014


First saw Ms Ogar on Londons BEN Television about a couple of years ago. I can no longer remember what it was she was pushing on BEN then, but I remember that it was a phone-in show.In my view, on that occasion, Ms Ogar did quite well speaking for the Department of State Security (DSS) and for Nigerian security agencies in general. Oh, she veered off into non-answer and banalities once or twiceespecially when asked tough or searching questionsand tried to pass those off as responses, but callers to the programme wouldnt let her. Her feet were held to the fire with robust questioning and counter arguments the type that Bishop Mathew Kukah absolutely loathes.But, overall, Ms Ogar acquitted herself very well and I went away thinking here was a lady who knew her job. However, it is a whole different Marilyn Ogar that I see on Nigerian TV stations these days: overbearing, patronising, impatient, condescending, pushy and intolerantthe quintessential overzealous civil servant who ignores the demarcation between the state and a political party. The Marilyn Ogar I see now is full of hubris, has the penchant to sermonise and talks down to people. She also seems to regard anyone who has a contrary view an enemy of the state.So it was true to form when Ms Ogar showed up on Channels TV about a couple of weeks ago bristling about lack of bombing after the APC won a governorship contest in Osun State. Ms Ogar was literarily frothing at the mouth. She was at her acerbic best. Her body language was something to behold. She was basically throwing a hissy-fit. Initially, I was confused by her general angst. I thought that as a spokesperson for the DSS and as a Nigerian, the lady would be glad that mad people did not bomb anywhere, but her countenance and her delivery suggested otherwise. She sermonised that every time the APC loses an election, bombs are let off in Nigeria.Until Ms Ogar made this assertion, I didnt realise that this was the case. I didnt even know that there had been that many electoral contests in Nigeria since Boko Haram declared war on Nigerians and began bombing us almost on a weekly basis. As far as I could count, there have been five recent gubernatorial elections. Of the five, the opposition won four (Osun, Anambra, Edo and Ondo) while the PDP won just Ekiti State. So where is this link between APC electoral losses and the ongoing bombings in Nigeria'Ms Ogar then went on to claim that a political party tried to make her organisation an offer prior to the election to influence its outcome. Incredibly, there the story ended.Trying to unduly influence electoral outcome is an offence under our laws. Is Ms Ogar content to just let this slide' Should serious security matters be politicised like thisespecially by a civil servant'Quite palpable was the distaste on Ms Ogars face as she discussed APCs victory in Osun. Clearly, the fact that there was no bombings post election was added merely for effect to make a larger point, to wit: how dare these people win this election' I do not know how and why a civil servant employed by the Nigerian state would be so unhappy about a local election outcomeunless Ms Ogar also doubles as a PDP spokesperson.Nigerias unsavoury past is littered with governments using security agencies to fight the opposition. Remember the IBB regime and its parcel bomb' Abacha and his killer squad' Since then it has become fashionable for overly ambitious and ubiquitous civil servants to overreach themselves.This is why Ms Ogar is quite happy to tell Nigerians who should be and who shouldnt be at electoral events due to their state of origin. A public relations person for the DSS is ready to redefine how electioneering should be conducted in Nigeria. You see how some people take themselves too seriously'Back in July, Ms. Ogar labeled BringBackOurGirls campaigners a franchise (meaning that they belong to a bigger organisation). She also claimed they were carrying out smear campaigns against government officials. Again, no proof, no facts, no evidence.The DSS is supposed to be one of our most discreet intelligence agencies, unfortunately now, it is its own PR person that is hanging a shabby image around the agencys neck.Theres no gain-saying it: Ms Ogar has become the news. She has been very unprofessional in the discharge of her duties. Shes courted too many controversies and there have been too many instances of lack of decorum and lack of discretion. What is on show is just plain recklessness, and frankly, Im embarrassed for her. She misuses information that may or may not be in the possession of the DSS. Furthermore, the line between serving the state and serving a political party has been completely erased in her mind. She needs help, she needs a break. Michael Egbejumi-David,demdem@hotmail.co.uk ]]>
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