Timi Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to stop their purported scheme to intimidate, degrade, detain, and unlawfully arrest Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele.
In response to claims made to that effect by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Monday in Abuja, Frank also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the DSS and other involved officials to stop their wrongdoing in order to prevent the already tense security situation in the nation from getting any worse.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Frank, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said such Gestapo tactics previously used by the DSS against judges of the Federal High Court and Supreme Court must be denounced by all well-meaning Nigerians.
Additionally, he stressed that even if he is not an admirer nor a friend of Emefiele or the current administration, he will not remain silent when a serious injustice is about to be done to a fellow Nigerian.
The political activist from Bayelsa asserts that until they are disproven before a court with jurisdiction, claims are allegations, regardless of how skillfully they are phrased.
“Therefore, the rule of law and due process must be followed if at all this present onslaught by the DSS is not a politically motivated witch-hunt against Emefiele.”
He added:
“Let us not allow the kind of kangaroo and commando-styled Operation by the DSS that was used to remove a former Chief Justice of Nigeria in the recent past.
“I call on all well meaning Nigerians to resist a repeat of this type of injustice and inhumanity in our nation.
“If any government official has been found to violate certain aspects of our laws, let the Rule of Law be followed in redressing any such infraction.
“Why would any group of people want to remove someone who is trying his best to give some sort of credence to this government – that has failed in all aspects of good governance – It is not only sad but an attempt to worsen the current situation that we are in as a country.
“Is the government trying to play an ethnic card? This brings to mind, what happened to the former Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Onnoghen and the former Acting DG of the Department of State Services, Seiyefa – both were removed unceremoniously.
” Many key people under this government have been said to have purportedly committed various illegalities and none has been treated like the way Emefiele is being treated.
“I will never fold my hands and watch when injustice is being perpetuated against any Nigerian.
“I also received with dismay that members of this government are part of the plot. Governor Emefiele has suddenly become a persona non-grata, obviously because of his recent policy on the redesigning of the Naira. Not minding that this policy is to help fight corruption and looting that has become endemic under this APC administration.
“The current government knows that they cannot win any election except through vote buying. Hence, he is no longer in their good books.
“I am, therefore, using this medium to caution the DSS and their cohorts in government to desist from this illegality for which they have purportedly procured an illegal court order to mask their sinister intentions.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the DSS and other conniving officials to order in order not to heighten the already heightened security situation in the country at this critical time.”
