Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria, yesterday came under heavy fire from the Abuja-based Goodluck/Sambo Success Group, which accused him of gross incompetence dating back to his days as a Military Administrator in the 1980s.

The group in a statement accused Nyako of squandering leadership opportunities at both the federal and state levels, insisting that his present position as Adamawa State Governor is unmerited but the result of a conspiracy involving former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo (retd.), and foremost Adamawa academic and politician, Prof. Jibril Aminu. Below is the group’s assessment of Nyako’s leadership odyssey:

“Murtala Nyako as a Military Administrator: The then Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, was forced by Niger State indigenes to remove Murtala Nyako as Military Administrator of the state for alleged gross incompetence. They managed Murtala Nyako for 7 months only.

“Murtala Nyako as Chief of Naval Staff: Having been removed as Military Administrator, many officers openly jubilated. They thought that was the end of him, but in the then military, where northerners held sway, Nyako was to the surprise of many appointed Chief of Naval Staff by General Ibrahim Babangida. The highly respected General Ibrahim Salihu described the situation as a military of “anything goes”. Nyako was to confirm the rightness of General Obasanjo’s decision by failing to “provide leadership” for the Navy. Tired of keeping him on the basis of tribe and religion, General Babangida removed him, but rather that retire him, IBB created the office of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff for Nyako. Some say IBB did this to appease General Sani Abacha, that he mortally feared.

“The One and Only Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in Nigeria’s History: Murtala Nyako is the only man to have occupied the office of Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. According to a retired military officer, ‘it was created for Nyako, occupied by Nyako and after Nyako the office was closed down’.

“As a Civilian Governor: Like a cat with nine lives, Murtala Nyako was to stage a comeback in 2007 as governor of Adamawa State. General Obasanjo in his anti-north agenda and in his desire to punish the people of Adamawa State for the sins of his then Vice President, AlhajiAtiku Abaubakar, imposed Nyako on the people of Adamawa State. Prof. Jibril Aminu has since apologised to the people of the state for his role in the conspiracy against Adamawa State. By the grace of God, this is Murtala Nyako’s final BUS STOP.”

•Photo shows Murtala Nyako as a Military Administrator.