SAN FRANCISCO, February 10, (THEWILL) – Various coalition of civil society organizations, community-based organizations and pro-democracy groups have united in condemnation of the Department of State Services, DSS’ invasion of the Maitama residence of Bayelsa’s foremost monarch, King A.J Turner.
Describing the invasion as Nigeria’s gradual decent to dictatorship, the groups threatened a nationwide protest, insisting that the action is not the democracy Nigeria fought for.
There have been reports in the media that operatives of DSS invaded the residence of the first-class traditional ruler in Maitama-Abuja on Monday, carting away vital documents, including some amount of dollars, pound sterling, naira and rupee.
The raid, which happened at a time King Turner was away in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, according to Leadership newspaper led to the carting away of the following: 60 pieces of £50 note; 46 pieces of £20 note; 113 pieces of $100 note; N5,000 (N1000 note); 230 Indian rupee.
Other items removed include: Complimentary cards of TRENUR Nigeria Ltd – HRH King A.J Turner, 60 Mississippi, Maitama, Abuja; a document containing account numbers of Miss Havi Mabel Turner; Miss Apelega Inengite; A.J Turner and TRENUR Nigeria Ltd; Income & Expenditure book of M.D Matelbot Oil Nigeria Ltd; a document on campaign fund-raising as well as other documents on financial transactions.
While the King is yet to react to the incident, National Coordinator of the coalition, Abubakar Abubakar esq told a news conference that it is worrisome for security and anti-corruption agencies to be unleashed as attack dogs to hound down anyone or group perceived to be in opposition to the government
Noting that although the groups are in support of the current administration’s anti-corruption crusade which is genuinely aimed at recovery of stolen funds, they stressed that indicted persons must also be treated with their fundamental human right constantly considered.
According to Abubakar, “we must express our worries about the way security agencies and anti-corruption agencies are being unleashed as attack dogs to hound down anyone or group perceived to be in opposition to the government. It possibly would have been considerable to maintain some air of indifference if those on the receiving end were active politicians only, but an ugly dimension has now been introduced into the on-going purge and campaign of intimidation that has now been extended to include those who decline to openly come out in support of the party that runs the government of the day.”
He said the raid on Turner’s residence is an attack on traditional institution in the country, adding that “The alarm bell first went off for us when non-political public office holders started making the list of targets of intimidation by security operatives. Had we raised this alarm at that point, it might have been termed premature. Now it has got to a panic mode as even traditional rulers, who are neutral by virtue of their position, are now being harassed on account that they did not align with the ruling party.
“The raid of the Maitama residence of Bayelsa State monarch, King A.J Turner, by operatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), falls into this latter category,” he stated.
Abubakar said the invasion of the residence of the monarch has nothing to do with corruption investigation, but because of his insistence on playing the role of a royal father by sensitizing Bayelsans on the need to exercise their voting rights in peaceful manner during the recent Governorship elections in Bayelsa.
He continued that, “In the strongest terms, we condemn this attack on King Turner as an attack on the freedom of all Nigerians. We equally condemned the tendency for the secret police to protect members of the ruling party alone while deriving sadistic pleasure from harassing those who have refused to compromise their beliefs and jump ship.
“We are calling on the international community to take the recent events in Nigeria as early warning that democracy in Nigeria is on trial. Only a timely international intervention can save the situation if the democratic progress made in the West Africa region is not to be rolled back. The fight against corruption has been covertly transmuted into a war on democracy and personal freedom.
“We use this opportunity to call on all other traditional rulers that maintained neutrality during the general election to speak out in condemnation of this act of aggression. It is a matter of time before the secret police come for them too on trumped up charges since they too refused to be politically biased during electioneering.”
