DSS Warns Politicians Against ‘Unguarded’ Statements

The DSS Spokesperson, Mr. Peter Afunanya in a statement on Monday, said the Service should be “left out of any political fray as it is committed to maintaining usual neutrality and transparency in the discharge of its mandate”.

The statement reads in part, “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 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 compliments 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 times have changed”.

The statement also said that the Service is a frontline guardian of democracy which respects the rule of law and is committed to the protection of the populace.

The statement further reads, “For the avoidance of doubt, it does not shield its personnel who offend its rules and in fact, the 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 do so 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”.