By Gideon Njoku
If Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, does not mind his language, he could talk himself into trouble.
At least, one Security Agency, the Department of State Services, DSS, is angry with him, and has sent a strong warning to Ayu to desist forthwith.
In what was seen by many present as mis-speaking and an unprovoked attack, Ayu, while exuding confidence that his Party, the PDP, would win the Presidential election in 2023, had said that when PDP takes over, it would not harass Nigerians with Security Agencies. He made the mistake of naming them, including the DSS, an Agency seen by many as not politicised, but quietly doing its constitutional job.
Ayu spoke this last weekend in Owerri, Imo State, at the reception of the new National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, by the Imo State Chapter of the PDP.
The DSS has taken exception to Dr. Ayu’s statement and has, in a strongly-worded statement, signed by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, warned Ayu to desist from making such unprovoked statement.
The Service says Ayu’s statement was not only mischievous, but inciting as the DSS does not indulge in the harassment of citizens.
The Service, also reminded Ayu of the services the DSS had rendered to him from the time he was Senate President, to the years he was a Cabinet Minister, and asked if, perhaps, he was using the details attached to him for illegal harassment of people.
The Service also asked that it be left alone to concentrate on the onerous job assigned to it by the Constitution, insisting that it has never failed to discipline any of its personnel who stepped out of line.
Following is the DSS statement:
“The attention of the Department of State Services, DSS, has been drawn to an unwarranted statement made by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, against Security Agencies including the Service.
“The Party Chairman, while speaking at an event on February 22, in Owerri, Imo State, was quoted to have said that his Party would not use the DSS to harrass the people when they take over Aso Rock in 2023.
“Though the Service restrains itself from joining issues, particularly, with politicians, it wishes to state its disapproval of such statement which is considered as unjustified, unfair, speculative and preposterous.
“Except to malign and incite the people against it, the Service questions the rationale behind such an unprovoked description of it by Chief Ayu who had variously benefited from it, and, indeed, the State.
“Having served variously as Senate President, Minister of Education, Industry, Internal Affairs and Environment, with full complements of Security details, he knows the Service is never used to harass the people. And, if he ever used the details for negative services (unknown to the Sevice), he should know that the times have changed.
“Dr Ayu knows that the Service is a frontline guardian of democracy, and respects the rule of law in Nigeria. It is committed to the protection of people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it does not shield its personnel who offend the rule of the law of the land from disciplinary action thus, the unfruitfulness of his statement.
“The DSS, has undoubtedly made profound sacrifices for the existence and unity of the country, and will continue to, despite deliberate attacks on it.
“While members of the public are urged to disregard Dr. Ayu’s statement, politicians are enjoined to desist from making unguarded statements with tendencies to breach public order.
“Overall, the Service prefers that it be left out of any political fray as it is committed to maintaining its usual neutrality and transparency in the discharge of its mandate.”
