Former Department of State Services (DSS) director Mike Ejiofor has attributed the viral spread of a video following Adeola Ajayi’s appointment as the new Director General of the DSS to mischief makers.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Ejiofor urged the new DSS chief to investigate the viral video.
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu appointed Ajayi, who was previously the Assistant Director-General, to replace Yusuf Bichi as the head of the DSS. The President also appointed Mohammed Mohammed as the new Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), replacing Ahmed Rufai.
Tinubu had retained Bichi and Rufai in June 2023 after dismissing all service chiefs and heads of security agencies. Bichi and Rufai were initially appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.
Following the new appointments, social media was flooded with video clips purportedly showing DSS personnel celebrating at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Commenting on the viral video, Ejiofor stated, “Some of those videos are old, dating back to 2018, not new. Mischief makers are behind this, as is often the case with social media.”
“But even if we assume, without conceding, that it’s a new video, it’s natural for people to celebrate new appointments or election results, with some saying ‘our man is in.’ However, the DSS is a professional organization, and whoever posted these videos, whether old or new, is simply trying to cause mischief. I believe the new DG will address this.”
Expectations for Ajayi
Ejiofor praised the new DSS director, acknowledging the significant expectations that come with his new role and wishing him success. He emphasized that Ajayi’s appointment by the President is “strategic” and highlighted his extensive experience.
“He’s managed complex and challenging states, such as Rivers State, where he successfully navigated the turbulent political landscape,” Ejiofor said. “I expect he will bring this experience to the national stage, working to reconcile differences, unite staff, and foster national unity.”