DSS warns ‘serving governor’, says no one above the law

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a final warning to politicians who make provocative statements, saying it will no longer tolerate public office holders who use their positions to fan the flames of violence and acts that are inimical to the general interest of the nation.

Speaking on Monday through its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar, the DSS referenced the statement of Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state, who had said that the 54 soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny had a right to protest the failure of the government to adequately equip them to fight Boko Haram.

“The attention of the Department of State Services has been drawn to inciting and unguarded statements and utterances by some politicians ahead of the 2015 general election. Of particular interest is the statement of a serving governor calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest against constituted authority, with the intent to undermine the government of the federal republic of Nigeria,” it said.

The service which described the statement as subversive added: “Their actions which are intended to achieve their desires are irresponsible, selfish and against our collective wellbeing as a nation. It is noteworthy that similar unguarded provocative statements by politicians in the past had encouraged violence that resulted in loss of innocent lives and property.

“It is pertinent to note that no Nigerian is above the laws of this land. Political office holders must not hide under the privileges of their offices to perpetrate and encourage the commission of acts inimical to the general interest of this nation, as this will henceforth not be tolerated.

“This statement therefore serves as the last warning to all those seeking to truncate the nation’s democracy by their careless and obviously mischievous utterances and actions to desist and retrace their steps immediately. This service and indeed all security agencies will not rest on their oars and are committed to the successful conduct of the 2015 general election in Nigeria.”