Sambo Dasuki

Youth wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum, on Saturday threatened to mobilise Nigerians against what it described as President Muhammadu Buhari’s dictatorial tendencies for using the Department of State Security to hunt perceived enemies.

The angry northern youths, who expressed anger over continued occupation of the Abuja home of former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki retd. by officers of the Department of State Security, claimed that under Buhari, the DSS appears to be used as machinery for witch-hunt rather than security intelligence gathering and operation.

Speaking at a press conference today, the National President of the ACF youth wing, Alhaji Yerima Shettima said the action of DSS amounts to impunity and infringement of right of the former NSA.

The ACF youth leader however, called on the Buhari-led Federal Government to respect the ruling of a Federal High Court on the matter and immediately ask the operatives of the DSS to vacate the former NSA’s home.

He stated, “We are saddened by the handling of the case of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (Retd) because so many gaps can be seen in all of the attempts to justify why such a high profile Nigerian should be treated the way he has been treated by this country. This is the first time an intelligence service official would be so treated.”

According to him, there is no convincing justification on why the DSS should ignore an order granted by a court of competent jurisdiction. He also said on no account should the former NSA’s right as protected by a court in the land be trampled upon. This is taking us back to the dark days of military dictatorship and it is unfortunate.

“This Gestapo style is unacceptable under a democratic atmosphere. We view the action of the DSS with shock and surprise, considering the fact that rule of law is a pillar of any meaningful change. It will be suicidal to allow Nigeria to drift into a one-party state,” he noted.

The ACF youth wing leader, who said much as President Muhammadu Buhari in particular and the administration in general, would want to sanction anyone for any wrongdoing, he insisted, it should be seen to be doing so in a civilized manner, free of any tendency towards partisanship. “Even if it is a coincidence, the continuous arrest of people from one and the same political party is a bad coincidence that creates a wrong impression. The prosecution of former governors, all from a single political party can be unhealthy for the image of a government that belongs to nobody,” he added.

He however emphasised that the ruling party , APC, should not be seen to be going after only the opposition party members .