We have uncovered plot to scuttle transfer of power to President-elect, Tinubu — DSS

The Department of State Service (DSS) spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunaya, on Wednesday in Abuja, said they have uncovered plans by some politicians to scuttle transition of power from President Muhammadu Buhari to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said the DSS would not hesitate “to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions.”

Afunaya, however, assured Nigerians that the Secret Police is committed to ensuring a smooth transition of power and also advised those politicians hatching plans to sponsor violent protest and plunge the country into endless crisis to desist forthwith.

A statement signed by him and obtained by Persecondnews said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria.

“The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution andundermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.

“The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians.

“This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.

“The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of state of emergency.”

Afunaya also disclosed that the “unscrupulous politicians” are planning to obtain a court injunction to stall the inauguration.

“Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the federal and state levels.

“The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction.

“It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the states it will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023.

“Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations.

“Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions,” the statement said.

Persecondnews recalls that Mr Festus Keyamo (SAN), the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and spokesperson of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council had petitioned the DSS, demanding the arrest and prosecution of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed.

In the petition addressed to Director General of DSS on March 23, Keyamo cited the utterances of the Vice- Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party on Channels TV.

Keyamo said: “The latest of such are the comments made by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the president-elect is sworn in on May 29, 2023, it would “signal the end of democracy.”

“It is noteworthy that Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have submitted elections petitions to the courts for adjudication, but their conducts and utterances amount to a subversion of the processes they have instituted in court and a subversion of our Constitution and the laid-down processes for addressing disputes and grievances.

“These conduct and utterances are a build-up to something more sinister and it is important you rein them in now!

“In the circumstance, I submit this petition in my personal capacity as a patriotic Nigerian to invite/arrest, interrogate and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court for their conducts, which amount to incitement and treasonable felony.”