Department of State Services (DSS) Archives

The Department of State Services (DSS) in Kogi State yesterday invited the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman, over a petition against him by some members of the opposition.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that he was with the service for several hours.

It was further gathered that the DSS decided to invite him for discussion on issues that will bring peace to the state.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, Alhaji Usman said the invitation was normal.

According to him, they had fruitful discussions and as a good citizen of the state, he and his party would always maintain peace. He assured that the coming election would be free and fair.

He further stated that as far as he was concerned, there is no tension in the state ahead of the election, and urged his supporters to continue to maintain peace before, during and after the election.

Also speaking with newsmen, the commissioner for information and communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, said Ododo was invited by the DSS, and as a law-abiding citizen who is aspiring to lead the state, he honoured the invitation.

He said, “The allegations contained in the petition are frivolous and unfounded, but it was incumbent on the APC candidate to respect a constituted authority such as the DSS. Alhaji Ododo was questioned by a team of operatives at the DSS for hours, and he gave convincing explanations to the interrogators.

“We commend the professionalism of the DSS and pledge our cooperation to whatever measures are taken or that would be taken to ensure a peaceful poll.

“We assure supporters of the APC governorship candidate that he has since left the DSS office to continue his consultations with Kogites ahead of the poll. Our commitment to peace and tranquility is iron cast.”

The presidency says some “disgruntled religious and past political leaders” are working with “external forces” to overthrow the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The presidency said it has “unimpeachable evidence” of a plan to recruit leaders of some ethnic groups and politicians to pass a vote of no confidence in Buhari and “throw the land into further turmoil”.

Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, on Tuesday, said “agent provocateurs” are planning to cause havoc.

He said the presidency’s statement is a follow-up to the warning by the Department of State Services (DSS) of plans to “throw the country into anarchy”.

“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership,” the statement read.

“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the president, thus throwing the land into further turmoil.

“The agent provocateurs hope to achieve through artifice and sleight of hands, what they failed to do through the ballot box in the 2019 elections.

“Nigerians have opted for democratic rule, and the only accepted way to change a democratically elected government is through elections, which hold at prescribed times in the country. Any other way is patently illegal, and even treasonable. Of course, such would attract the necessary consequences.

“These discredited individuals and groups are also in cahoots with external forces to cause maximum damage in their own country. But the presidency, already vested with mandate and authority by Nigerians till 2023, pledges to keep the country together, even if some unruly feathers would be ruffled in the process.”

The DSS had on Sunday warned “misguided elements” threatening Nigeria’s unity and peaceful co-existence to desist from doing so.

Department of State Services (DSS)

DSS Invites Kogi APC Guber Candidate

Aso Villa: Religious, political leaders working with external forces to overthrow Buhari

The presidency says some “disgruntled religious and past political leaders” are working with “external forces” to overthrow the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.