Unguarded Utterances: DSS Warns Ayu, Other Politicians
The Department of State Service (DSS), has cautioned politicians against what it described as “unguarded utterances with tendencies to breach public order”.
The Service which stated this while responding to a statement credited to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, over an alleged unwarranted against security agencies, including the DSS, said the opposition party boss was aware that the Agency is a frontline guardian of democracy and respect for rule of law in Nigeria.
Dr Ayu while speaking at an event on February 23, 2022 in Owerri, the Imo State capital, was quoted to have said that the PDP would not use the DSS to harass the people when they take over Aso Rock in 2023.
The DSS in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Aunnaya on Monday explained that even though it usually restrains itself from joining issues particularly with politicians, it however wished to state its disapproval of such a statement which is considered unjustified, unfair, speculative and preposterous.
In the words of Afunnaya: “Except to malign and incite the people against it, the Service questions the rationale behind such an unprovoked description of it by 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.
“If he ever used the details for negative purposes, unknown to the Service, he should know that times have changed,” he said.
Afunanya stressed that the Service had been committed to the protection of lives and property and had made profound sacrifices for the existence and unity of the country and urged members of the public to disregard Dr Ayu’s statement.
According to the DSS; “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. The Service would continue to do so, in spite of deliberate attacks on it”.
Afunnanya further said that the DSS does not shield its personnel who offend its rules and laws of the land from disciplinary action.
