By Nasir Kura
Within a short time the new Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, has demonstrated unique leadership and management skills that put him in good stead towards becoming a leader to be loved and respected by the rank and file of the NIA.
Despite the initial failed attempts to cast doubts on his pedigree by interlopers who lost out in the desperate bid for the soul of the Agency, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, came in the saddle focussed on delivering the mandate of his office through a clear sense of vision and purpose. This did not come to officers of the Agency as a surprise because they know him to be a thorough bred professional.
Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar started by mobilising all the staff towards strengthening and sustaining the NIA on its familiar path of efficiency, professionalism, courage and patriotism. He communicated the right thoughts and set the right tone in the most effective manner. He also listened patiently to views and suggestions across the Agency.
There is now a groundswell of consensus that he is on the trajectory towards becoming the perfect boss. Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar has won the hearts and support of the Agency’s Management Team and members of staff in general through consistency, courage, compassion, confidence and effective delegation of functions.
He has been showing clear willingness to remove obstacles that may constrain members of staff from taking initiatives and professional risks towards delivering on the Agency’s core mandate. After almost eight months of distractions orchestrated by purveyors of fake news, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar is spreading optimism across the Agency by demonstrating integrity, honesty, fairness, forthrightness, decisiveness and discipline in the management of the Agency’s affairs.
With Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, everyone in the NIA has a voice and that is the crux of the matter for the obscure but patriotic men and women who constantly put their lives on the line for the security, peace and progress of Nigeria. Surely, by appointing Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as the Director General of National Intelligence Agency, President Muhammadu Buhari has put a square peg in a square hole.
