By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A civil society group, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has commended the Acting President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for his urgent intervention in ordering the unconditional withdrawal of the officials of the Directorate State Security (DSS) from the National Assembly Complex and the immediate sack of its Director- General, Lawal Musa Daura.
Reacting to the unfortunate and shameful siege on the National Assembly last Tuesday by officials of DSS who were masked, the CLO held that the action of the Acting President shows that the former DSS Director General, who had indulged in similar ugly, illicit acts in the past, did not have the authority of the Presidency to commit such sacrilege.
“We hail the actions of the Acting President and urge him to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the abominable incidence, bring all those involved to book and conduct clinical investigations on the Police, Army, Civil Defence and other armed security organizations whose conducts undermine democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Nigeria”.
In a statement on the blockade which was signed by CLO’s Executive Director Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, he insists that the headship of these security agencies should be overhauled and more decent, professional and law-abiding elements appointed in their place.
The CLO feels that only such credible actions will help in properly repositioning these agencies and aid them to work well to promote human rights, rule of law, and further enhance the free flow democratic practice and culture in our society.
“We condemn, in its entirety, the criminal blockade of the Nigerian House today by the DSS. It is not only an irresponsible act but an affront on the law. CLO demands full and uninterrupted investigation into the heinous crime with the intention to bring the perpetrators and their sponsors to book. Punishment of offenders of the law can deter other primitive intentions and will assist in building and nurturing our democratic culture.”
Furthermore, the CLO commended the noble role of the civil society activists who stormed the National Assembly to protest the impunity.
“We solicit for more such actions because all it takes for evil men to take over the society and poisoned it, Edmund Burke insists, is for good men to stand aloof and do nothing. Aluta Continua !!“