PDP Chairman provokes DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS), on Monday expressed displeasure with the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, over statements reportedly credited to him. Ayu was quoted to have said that his party would not use personnel of the agency to harass people, when it assumes power in 2023.

Reacting to the development, the DSS described the Ayu’s statements as unjustified, unfair, speculative and preposterous. The Service said in a statement it issued on Monday night that Ayu’s comment was unwarranted.

“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 23rd February, 2022 in Owerri, Imo State, was quoted to have said that his party would not use the SSS to harass 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 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 benefitted 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 purposes (unknown to the service), he should know that the times have changed,” it said.

DSS maintained that Ayu knew the service as a frontline guardian of democracy and respected the rule of law in Nigeria.

“It is committed to the protection of the people. For the avoidance of doubt, it does not shield its personnel, who offend its rules and in fact, laws of the land, from disciplinary action, thus the untruthfulness 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”, the agency said.

The statement signed by the Spokesman of DSS, said, while members of the public are urged to disregard Ayu’s statement, politicians were enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances with tendencies to breach public order.

“Overall, the service prefers that it is left out of any political fray as it is committed to maintaining usual neutrality and transparency in the discharge of its mandate,” it stated.(THISDAY: Excludes headline)