A’Ibom elders ask Buhari to speak out on invasion by DSS

WORRIED by the recent invasion of the Government House by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), elders and stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make a statement on the issue; otherwise he would be seen to have had foreknowledge of the incident.

This was expressed by the leader of the team, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, while addressing journalists in Uyo.

According to him, that action could be interpreted to mean plans to muzzle opposition states in the South-South, thereby querying the future of Nigeria’s democracy in the hands of the former military ruler of the country.

He urged Nigerians to rise against what they described as a clear violation of democratic ethos.

The elders, who noted that such action has no precedence in both democratic and military rule, said it was, “a clear breach of the immunity of the governor.”

“We see this action as clear breach of the immunity of the governor and a continuation of the planned harassment which the federal authorities have persistently visited on opposition elements after the elections,” he added.

The elders who attributed some partisan interest in the action, called for mass resistance to the alleged orchestrated campaign of harassment and intimidation by federal agencies, adding that the ultimate aim was to humiliate opposition states.

“The partisan nature in which this federal agency had been interfering with normal procedural matters is becoming very worrisome and requires immediate intervention to save our democracy,” the elders cautioned.

The DSS, they noted, should have followed the due process of investigation “assuming there are issues involving two parties,” instead of invading the Government House in Gestapo style.”

“When did the DSS become part of the procedural arm of the criminal justice system, the strong arm show exhibited by the invading team is clear evidence that the action was not just a routine surveillance act, but a calculated attempt at intimidating the governor,” he queried.

Also on the entourage were senators Anietie Okon and Effiong Bob; former minister, Chief Nduese Essien; Elder Ben Udobia, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, Lady Valerie Ebe and others.