UYO, Federal Republic of Nigeria. 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 raised the alarm, threatening to resist every attempt to treat the state as a conquered territory.
The elders, who consider the invasion as political move by the opposition to harass, intimidate and humiliate the government of the state, called on President Buhari-led federal government to call its agents to order and restrain them from involving in activities that have the tendency of upsetting the peaceful nature of the society.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, the elders led by Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, former military Governor of the state, queried the safety of Nigeria’s hard-won democracy in the hands of the former military ruler of the country and urged Nigerians to rise against what they described as a clear violation of democratic ethos.
The elders, who noted that such dangerous action has no precedence in both democracy and military rule, said such action 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 programmed harassment which the Federal authorities have persistently visited on opposition elements since after the elections”, he added.
The elders who attributed some partisan interest in the action, called for mass resistance to the 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 safe our democracy”, the elders warned. 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”, kanga asked, adding that “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”.
Also on the entourage were Senators Anietie Okon and Effiong Bob; former Minister, Chief Nduese Essien; Elder Ben Udobia, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, Lady Atim Okpoyo among others.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
