4th September, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state on Friday slammed the Department of State Security, DSS, alleging that the Nigerian secret security agency and its new Director-General, Lawal Daura, have commenced a script to frustrate the states governed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Fayose, who further condemned the alleged invasion of the Akwa Ibom State Government House by men of the DSS on Thursday, called for Daura’s sack.
At a press conference held by Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Governor, on behalf of his boss, the governor alleged that while states governed by the PDP were being invaded, states governed by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, were handled with kid-gloves.
“Yesterday, the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo was invaded by armed men from the Special Squad of the DSS.
“They invaded the Presidential Wing of the Government House in a commando-like 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 Akwa Ibom State Government House, instead of the Boko Haram-ravaged North-eastern part of Nigeria,” the governor said in his speech made available to our correspondent.
Fayose recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom 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 has turned Akwa Ibom State and other states into centre of its draconian operations. DSS 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 Nigeria back to the 1984 era of General Mohammadu Buhari 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,” part of the lengthy speech stated.
The governor said Thursday’s invasion of the Akwa Ibom Government House by men of the DSS and arrest of the State INEC REC “are part of this sinister
plot by 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 Akwa Ibom State 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 Alhaji Lawal Daura is drawing Nigeria back to the Military era.
“If a Government House occupied by a Governor who enjoys the same immunity enjoyed 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 men will definitely have Nigerians to contend with.”
Fayose, who vowed to continue to speak out “because Nigeria belongs to all of us,” warned that Nigeria is not a banana republic that could be ruled by anyone.
He warned Lawal Daura and those allegedly urging him on to 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.”
Noting that the power of the people is always great in a democracy, Fayose called on President Buhari to call 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.
“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,” Fayose added.