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I have called you here on behalf of His Excellency, Mr Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State to address you on the strangeand anti-democracy conducts of the Department of State Security (DSS) since AlhajiLawal Daura took over as the Director General. Yesterday, the AkwaIbom State Government House in Uyowas invaded by armed men from the Special Squad of the DSS.They invaded the Presidential Wing of the Government House in a commando-liked manner, ransacked it, intimidated and harassed the occupants, claiming that they were searching for bomb and documents!
One wonders when the Government House of Akwa-Ibom State turned to a factory where bombs are made. Also, we wonder why men of the DSS were overzealously looking for bomb in AkwaIbom State Government House, instead of the Boko Haram ravaged North Eastern part of Nigeria. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in AkwaIbom State, Mr. Austin Okojie was picked up by men of the DSS in July.
The REC was detained and later asked to report daily to their office for interrogation. Interestingly, the DSS under Alhaji Lawal Daura that has turned Akwa Ibom State and other States into centre of its draconian operations has not deemed it necessary to invite for questioning, the Yobe State INEC REC, Mr. Abu Zarma in whose bank account N15 million alleged to be a bribe was found. From the barbaric act of the DSS yesterday and other actions of Security Service under Alhaji Lawal Daura in the last few weeks, one can conclude that Daura is taking Nigeriaback to the 1984 era of General MohammaduBuhari and this is unfortunate.
No doubt, the Director General (DG)DSS, Lawal Daura is acting out a sinister script of taking over Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled States in the South-South and South East by whatever means. Obviously, Thursday invasion of the AkwaIbom Government House by men of the DSS and arrest of the State INEC REC are part of this sinister plotby the All Progressives Congress (APC) to circumvent the will of the people of the South-South and South-East States controlled by the PDP, using the DSS, but it will fail ultimately.
To say the least, invasion of the AkwaIbomState Government House on Thursday ordered by Daura, is a rape of democracy and invitation to chaos and anarchy. It is authoritarian, dictatorial and I condemn it strongly. It is unfortunate that this is happening under President Buhari’s watch, and painful that AlhajiLawal Daura is drawing Nigeria back to the Military era. If a GovernmentHouse occupied by a Governor who enjoys the same immunity enjoys by the President as provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could be invaded by a Special Squad of the DSS, it means Lawal Daura is moving this country towards dictatorship and it must be said clearly that Daura and his DSS menwill definitely have Nigerians to contend with.
As for me, I will continue to talk because Nigeria belongs to all of us. Nigeria is not a banana republic that can be ruled anyhow by anyone and Mr Lawal Daura and those urging him on should know that this reign of brute force over constitutional democracy will fail. This is because we have seen them operate before and here they are now, trying to take us back to that inglorious era of dictatorship and barbarism where Nigerians were treated with contempt.
This time around, it is a democracy that can never accommodate that 1984 era of draconian rule. Most importantly, Lawal Daura and his desperate men should know that here in Nigeria of today, the power of the people is greater than the power of those in power and the people will always rise in defence of their government no matter how strong the aggression.
It is on this note that I call on President Buhari to call Alhaji Lawal Daura to order. He should be made to know that his activities since he assumed office as the DG DSS are of growing concern to Nigerians and that he is becoming extremely controversial. His actions as the DG DSS are regrettable, unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable because he has come to symbolise dictatorship, which democracy abhors. Alhaji Lawal Daura should know that he is holding the office of DG DSS that he presently occupies in trust for all Nigerians and such office is not one that can be turned into instrument of political witch-hunt.
If Alhaji Daura continues with his use of the DSS to harass, intimidate and assault the constitution of Nigeria, President Buhari may have to show to Nigerians that he is not a party to the use of the
security agency to witch-hunt his political opponents by sacking the DG DSS.
Men of the Department of the State Service have uncovered arms and ammunition from the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo.
It was learnt that the discovery was
made during a surprise raid. The operation was jointly carried out by
operatives from the SSS headquarters in Abuja and the state command,
according to Premium Times. The SSS reportedly stormed the Hilltop Mansion based on security reports.
After ransacking the entire residence of
the governor, which is yet to be occupied by the serving Governor, Udom
Emmanuel, the operatives moved to guest houses and the presidential
lodge, said to be currently in use by ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio.
Security sources said on Friday that the
arms were found in one of the guest houses while searching for
documents and Improvised Explosive Devices.
When contacted, the state government declined to comment on the report.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Mr.
Ayodele Fayose, has condemned the invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government
House by the armed men of Department of State Services.
Fayose said the manner the DSS
ransacked, intimidated and harassed the occupants, claiming they were
searching for bomb and documents, was “strange and anti-democracy.”
The governor, however, accused the DSS
of acting a sinister motive to run down the Peoples Democratic
Party-controlled states, instead of going after the Independent National
Electoral Commission suspected to have been involved in graft.
He said, “Interestingly, the DSS under
Alhaji Lawal Daura that has turned Akwa Ibom State and other states into
centre of its draconian operations has not deemed it necessary to
invite for questioning, the Yobe State Resident Electoral Commissioner,
Mr. Abu Zarma, in whose bank account N15m alleged to be a bribe was
found.
“From the barbaric act of the DSS and
other actions under Alhaji Lawal Daura in the last few weeks, one can
conclude that Daura is taking Nigeria back to the 1984 era of Gen.
Mohammadu Buhari and this is unfortunate.
“No doubt, the DSS Director-General is
acting out a sinister script of taking over the PDP-controlled states in
the South-South and South East by whatever means.
“Daura’s actions as the DG DSS are
regrettable, unfortunate, condemnable and unacceptable because he has
come to symbolise dictatorship, which democracy abhors.”
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