The Department of State Services (DSS), has warned Dr Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against making what it described as “inciting statements.”
Ayu, had while addressing PDP supporters during the civic reception held to honour the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu at Kanu Nwankwo Center, Owerri, Imo state, allegedly said that the DSS has made itself available to those in government to be used to harass the opposition, adding that “his party would not use the SSS to harass the people when they take over Aso Rock in 2023.”
Reacting to Ayu’s remarks, the DSS in a Statement issued on Monday in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, accused the PDP Chairman of making statements capable of inciting the public against the agency.
While distancing DSS operatives from any unlawful action, Afunanya said as a former Senate President and ex-Minister, who served in various positions, Dr Ayu should understand the operations of the secret police and desist from spreading false allegations.
Afunanya, who said the DSS would not join issues with politicians, maintained that members of the public should not be fed wrong information for political reasons.
The statement reads: “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.
“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 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.
“While members of the public are urged to disregard Dr Ayu’s statement, politicians are 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.”