- Yunusa Tanko
//ONYEKA-AJUMOBI ONOCHIE//SHARE THIS
Followingthe Department of State Services (DSS)’s confirmation yesterday, of a plot to truncate the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Nigeria’s president, thereby paving the way for an Interim National Government, the Labour Party has roared like a wounded lion, asking the security agency to stop intimidating Ngerians, but go ahead and bring the culprits to book as quickly as possible.
Chief Spokesman for the Labour Party PCC, Yunusa Tanko, said Nigerians would not be intimidated by the threat of the DSS.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Wednesday, in Abuja, Tanko said: “For us, this particular statement from the security agency is more or less like a threat to the sovereignty of the people. But if it has verifiable facts and evidence as regards those who are planning to subvert the will of democracy, they should not hesitate to bring them out as quickly as possible. But not to intimidate the people when they are trying to fight for their rights,” he said.
He wondered why it took the security agency this long to start taking proactive measures to prevent chaos when the entire country was seized by ballot snatchers and thugs at the just-concluded general elections.
Tanko said: “If truth be told, the LP and Nigerians cannot be intimidated. When the DSS was supposed to have issued a caution, it didn’t do it. It failed to do it and that was what gave impetus to those who wanted to derail the democratic system and run away with it.”
The State Online reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) had yesterday, confirmed an alleged plot to truncate the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Nigeria’s president, thereby paving the way for an interim government.
The DSS made this known in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
This was coming barely 72 hours after the president-elect had cried out of a grand plot by the opposition parties to scuttle his swearing in on May 29, 2023.
The DSS’ statement reads inter alia: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria. The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.
“The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administration and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.
“The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the states. It will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023.”
“Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations.
“Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions.”
But reacting further, the Labour Party spokesman said: “Let me give you an example. When the LP members and supporters were being intimidated in Lagos and denied the right to vote, where was the DSS statement? Our members were maimed and also killed during the campaign period, and the DSS issued no warning. When people were being ethnically profiled at a particular point, where was the DSS? When ballot boxes and the mandate of the people were stolen, they were nowhere to be found,” he marveled, challenging the security agency to arrest people behind the plot if it had verifiable facts.
He came again, “Is it after all these heinous crimes have been committed against the people that the DSS is coming out to roar like a lion? It is either the DSS has been compromised or it is just not interested in defending the state. It is also bad enough that the people who make up the state are completely being ignored.
“For us, this particular statement from the security agency is more or less like a threat to the sovereignty of the people. But if it has verifiable facts and evidence as regards those who are planning to subvert the will of democracy, they should not hesitate to bring them out as quickly as possible. But not to intimidate the people when they are trying to fight for their rights,” he said. /SHARE THIS
- Tags: Yunusa Tanko, LP, DSS
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