Abuja Bombings: PDP Urges Buhari To Overhaul DSS, Other Intelligence Agencies

……Wants  a halt on politicization of DSS

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notes with deep sadness and concern,
the resurgence of terrorism and renewed attacks on the Federal Capital
Territory, with last Friday’s bombings in Nyanya and Kuje satellite
towns of the territory.

That the Abuja coordinated attacks came just as the nation was already
celebrating the success of our security forces in their efforts to rout
terrorists, indicates either a fact of dereliction of duty or sabotage
against the anti-terrorism fight.

Whereas we have remained steadfast in our commitment to support each and
every policy adopted by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari
aimed at ending terrorism, especially knowing the importance of secured
environment in achieving peaceful co-existence, an imperative for
development.

And whereas we are aware that a bomb is an ill-wind that blows no good
to anybody in the community, scaring away potential investors, we are
therefore duty bound to draw attention to certain grave factors,
possibly leading to the unfortunate resurgence, which, if unchecked
could worsen the ugly situation.

Our checks reveal that poor intelligence gathering by the Department of
State Services (DSS) and other relevant intelligence group is largely,
if not directly responsible for the resurgence of terrorists, who have
earlier been pushed to the precipices in the Sambisa forest in Borno
state, to the extent that they have slipped back into other cities,
including the nation’s capital.

From all indications, the DSS under the watch of the current Director-
General, Alhaji Lawal Daura does not seem to be in full grip of the
intelligence situation.

This is apparently traceable to the avoidable distractions occasioned by
the flagrant use of the agency for political assignments since the
emergence of the new Director-General, in addition to the apparent
administrative disharmony within the service, all resulting in the
erosion of professionalism, harmony and loyalty among personnel.

In the last few months, the DSS, instead of concentrating on its primary
statutory duties of providing domestic intelligence, security service
and criminal investigations for the state, has, under the new
Director-General, directed all its energies on political matters;
chasing after opposition elements, interfering in election tribunal
activities, intimidating and hounding tribunal witnesses, while
terrorists resurge, and combatant security forces left with scanty
intelligence.

The situation with the DSS has become so pathetic that it could not even
effectively analyze reported suspicious tweets “predicting the attacks”
as a cue to forestall last Friday’s attack in Abuja and other parts of
the country.

Indeed, our nation cannot afford a retrogression from the gains already
made in the fight against terrorism due to the failure of a
disorganized, improperly coordinated and distracted intelligence agency,
that is not able to live up to its billing.

It is on this note therefore that we urge President Buhari, as a matter
of urgency, to take a critical look at the situation in the DSS,
overhaul its management, administration and operations to ensure that
the required leadership and spirit needed to operate optimally exists in
the agency.

We wish to note that our position is beyond politics. Security is a
matter that concerns all Nigerians irrespective of political, religious
and ethnic affiliation and must be taken seriously in the general
interest of our dear nation.

This nation belongs to all of us and we, as citizens and critical
stakeholders must join hands, irrespective of our political differences,
to ensure that we give the Federal Government the required support in
the fight against terrorism in our country.

A great nation is the dream and aspiration of every Nigerian and that
was demonstrated just on Thursday, when the populace renewed their faith
in the oneness and progress of the country during the 55th Independence
anniversary celebration.


Signed:

Prince Uche Secondus
Acting National Chairman