The nomination of the former National Security Adviser, retired General Aliyu Gusau, as the new Minister of Defence is a brilliant move by President Goodluck Jonathan. This is one stone that kills many birds in a single throw.

Gusau, though a quiet man, is highly respected and highly connected within Nigeria and overseas. He has the respect and ear of powerful players such as retired generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, TY Danjuma and more, within Nigeria.

He has been a kingmaker of sorts. He was one of the four men (Abubakar, Babangida, Danjuma and himself) who made retired general Olusegun Obasanjo the President in 1999. Even better than Jonathan, he would look Obasanjo in the eyes and the latter will blink. So, he would suppress Obasanjo’s penmanship and there would be no more letters from that source.

All those increasingly doubtful of Jonathan’s politics would now have Gusau to contend with. His decision to accept the position as a Minister in the Jonathan administration is a strong vote of confidence for the President. In addition, it brings into the administration an experienced hand. It means that the President is not finished as many had begun to suspect. If Gusau is in his administration, it means that Gusau does not believe Jonathan is a sitting duck President.

Beyond Nigeria, Gusau is so highly respected and well connected within the American intelligence community. If he were not so senior an official, he would have been an excellent intelligence source on Nigeria for the Americans. Yes, I meant what I just said: that Gusau was for a long time CIA man in Nigeria. But the Americans wouldn’t need him now. They have multiple sources of superior intelligence on Nigeria. Who doesn’t? Every Nigerian official is too eager to sing to the American Ambassador in Abuja. They would even reveal what they were not yet requested to reveal.

Given Gusau’s connections to the American intelligence community and security apparatuses, he could help stabilise Jonathan’s fragile image in Washington. As a former military officer, he understands the Nigerian military and could watch the mood of military officers around the 2015 elections, in case someone is planning something. He will enjoy the respect of the officers, and is likely to project new muscles in the fight against insurgency.

But someone has pointed out the fact that this could be the President’s greatest error; to appoint a figure who has such a colossal influence can only accentuate President’s own leadership weaknesses and expose him unduly to any disloyalty from Gusau. That is the real jeopardy in the President’s game. The next layer in that game is to find ways to neutralise Gusau should he be found wanting in loyalty. These are the tactical and strategic maneuvers in any political game theory. And more good luck to the President.

President Jonathan has really shown, through this appointment, that he is not a pushover. He deliberately left the ministerial positions vacant for a while, watching developments. And this is his perfect timing.

If Jonathan could make similarly smart appointments in key areas such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, he could be on a home run for 2015. He needs an experienced and effective Ambassador in Washington to regain the momentum he had in 2010.

•Emeka Ugwuonye, Esquire, lawyer and activist, filed this analysis from Maryland, USA. Photo shows retired General Aliyu Gusau.

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