The All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed the DSS and the Police for their loud silence on the threats of war by ex-militants if President Goodluck Jonathan should lose this month’s elections, saying the failure of the security agencies to act is an indication of their double standard and lack of fairness.
In a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it is insightful to note that the same security agencies that reacted with hysteria to the harmless comments by Governor Rotimi Amaechi have suddenly lost their voices when the ex-militants threatened to wage war on the nation.
”When Gov. Amaechi said soldiers had the right to protest if their welfare was not taken care of, the DSS was at its most efficient level, with its voluble spokesperson threatening fire
and brimstone and only stopping short of arresting the Governor, despite his immunity.
”When the same Gov. Amaechi said the APC will form a parallel government if the Feb. 14th and 28th elections are rigged, the same
DSS and the police sought to outdo one another with threats and
condemnation of what they called ‘inciting comments’, even when Gov.
Amaechi’s warning was conditional.
”Now, the ex-militants have said President Jonathan must be
re-elected or they will unleash violence on the country. In other
words, it is immaterial whether or not he loses in a free and fair
elections. There is no clearer indication of impunity than the action
of the ex-militants, who issued their threats in the Bayelsa
government house, with the Governor of the state in attendance.
”More than a week later, the DSS has been missing in action while the
police, in what can pass as a most shocking reaction, said they are
still studying the ex-militants’ comments. Even after former Defence
Minister Gen.Theophilus Danjuma called for the arrest of the
ex-militants for their treasonable threats, and the ex-militants had
the audacity to repeat the threats, the police still continued to
‘study’ the threats. This is simply unbelievable,” it said.
APC said the implication of the conspiracy of inaction by the DSS and
the police is that, under the Administration of President Jonathan,
there are different rules for different Nigerians, wondering how the
security agencies can be trusted to provide a level playing ground for
all political parties before, during and after the forthcoming general
elections.
”For supporters of President Jonathan, there is no law, there is no
police, there is no DSS. Their support for the President is a licence
for lawlessness and irresponsibility, and if at all there is any law,
they remain far above such law. That is why they could dare the entire
nation by issuing such treasonable comments and get away with their
action,” the party said.
It called on Nigerians to take note of the glaring double standard of
the security agencies, while urging local and international observers
to closely monitor the activities of the security agents before,
during and after the polls.
”On our part, the fact that the DSS and the police, both of which
have issued their last warnings against those making inciting
comments, have failed to move against the war-mongering ex-militants
is a confirmation of what we have always believed: that national
institutions have been deployed in the pursuit of partisan, rather
than national interests under the Administration of President
Jonathan,” APC said.
