Clampdown on Dasuki, others raise fears of dictatorship

Divergent views have greeted the recent move against some past officials of the former administrations with growing fears, especially within the opposition, that Nigeria may be sliding into dictatorship. OBINNA EZUGWU reports

The recent siege on the home of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki as well as the recent clampdown on other security aides and advisers of former president Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns among Nigerians on the possibility of the country sliding into another era of dictatorship under President Muhammadu Buhari.

When few days ago on the eve of this year’s Sallah celebration, the Department of State Security Service (DSSS) invaded the Asokoro District home of Dasuki and effectively put the former security chief under house arrest, it led to serious national debate over the legality or otherwise of the action, especially considering the Gestapo like manner in which the security operatives handled the situation.

While some had argued that the Buhari-led administration had the right to go after those suspected of indulging in corrupt practices and had suggested that Dasuki’s ordeal may not be unconnected with the allegations of misappropriation of monies meant for the welfare and provision of hardware for the military in its effort against Boko Haram under President Jonathan, the reason adduced by the security agency as to why it moved to apprehend the former NSA was far from those, and in fact, defied any reasonable explanation.

The DSS famously claimed that its decision to invade Dasuki’s home was based on credible intelligence that linked him with alleged plans to commit felony against the Nigerian State. The security service, in a statement signed by Tony Opuigo, an official of the body claimed that it recovered several incriminating items, comprising seven high caliber rifles, many magazines and other military related equipments.

The above claims expectedly drew the condemnation of some notable Nigerians who, apart from faulting the manner of the invasion, described the reason adduced by the DSS as untenable. Human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa had for instance in a statement described the allegations as laughable, while observing that the tendency for Buhari to trample on human rights of perceived enemies under different guises was becoming a dangerous trend in the country.

“I read with much disdain the press statement made against the former National Security Adviser to President Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki that he was arming himself to overthrow the government of Buhari. It is just simply laughable as it is becoming clearer by the day that this is a vindictive administration.

“Even before he was sworn in, Buhari had launched a revenge mission against AIT given the very offensive documentary that was run against him during the campaigns. Next has been Mrs. Marilyn Ogar who was summarily demoted by the DSS for her role during the campaigns too,” Adegboruwa noted.

The lack of merit of the allegation was further laid bare by the former NSA who has pointed out that his fairness and restraint helped him to win power in the last election, while insisting that the siege on his home was witch-hunt. Certainly, one could argue that if Dasuki so desperately wanted Buhari out of Aso- Rock that he could plot to topple his government, he could have used his position as NSA under Jonathan to intimidate the then opposition APC and make sure it didn’t win power in the first instance.

Consequently, the fact that the security service went out of its way to subsequently invade personal home of the former NSA’s father and the 18^th Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki may also lend credence to the witch-hunt assertions. The act, many have observed was inappropriate and just as Alhaji Dasuki himself in an interview with the BBC Hausa service said, it was improper for the DSS to invade his house without his consent.

Just as Nigerians were pondering on what the real motives behind the move could be, it emerged that the embattled Dasuki had arrested Buhari coincidentally on the Sallah eve of 1985 following the successful execution of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd) led military coup that toppled Buhari’s military government. Although the above revelation has been disproved by another account, it nonetheless, points to the fact that there must have been more to Dasuki’s recent ordeal than meets the eye. And the fear that Buhari may be prosecuting a war of vendetta is obviously growing, said a source.

“It is selective witch-hunt,” said Udoka Udeogaranya, president of Igbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (ICSN). “Buhari should realize that if Jonathan was with-hunting opponents like this during his time as president, he (Buhari) could never have been able to win power.”

Although President Buhari had promised, much to the commendation of Nigerians that he would recover funds looted by officials of the past administration, observers point out that the president has mainly concentrated in pursuing personal  vendetta than working to recover stolen funds as he promised.

Besides Dasuki, other individuals such as Jonathan’s former chief security officer, Gordon Obua and former DSS spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar who have been at the receiving sides of Buhari’s pressure cannot be said to have been passing through their ordeals due to theft but rather as a result of the roles they played against Buhari and the APC during the 2015 electioneering campaigns.

This likely suggests that Buhari may simply be after those who offended him rather than those who stole the country’s money. Interestingly, the manner in which these prosecutions are being pursued contradicts the basic tenets of democracy and rule of law. Obua for instance had been detained for more than 24 hours without trial which according to Barr Chidi Ezugwu, a legal practitioner, is illegal.

“If detention spans beyond 24 hours, it is contrary to the constitution. The government has the right to question any official of the past administration, but in doing so, it must be within the provisions of the constitution. The government has no right to detain anyone beyond 24 hours without charging him to court,” Ezugwu said.

The above, of course, is also the opinion of Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose who pointed out in a statement that Buhari’s mode of operation represented a potential slid into dictatorship. “Persecution of PDP and others perceived as opposed to APC led federal government is a sign of imminent return of dictatorship and draconian rule in Nigeria,” Fayose warned.

Indeed, there is a general feeling that if Buhari was serious about fighting corruption and bringing corrupt individuals to justice, he should start from those around him in the APC who have been severally accused of corruption. The president has nonetheless, promised not to spare anyone who is corrupt, the actions of his administration so far suggests that the only guilty party are those perceived to be his political foes.

Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, deputy senate president is being investigated for his role in the alleged forgery of the senate rules led to the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as president and deputy president of the senate. Only last week the EFCC invited the wife of the senate president, Toyin Saraki for questioning over allegation of money laundering. Also Kingley Kuku, former adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta affairs is under probe.

It is not surprising therefore that the PDP and its senators have attributed the moves, particularly the one against Toyin Saraki as witch-hunt prompted by the way her husband, Senator Saraki emerged senate president against the wishes of the APC leadership.

The clamp down has also generated condemnation from a rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) which berated Buhari for what it called perpetuating barbaric act.

In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, the CHRSJ noted that the invasion of Dasuki’s house was illegal, unlawful and contradicts the tenets of democratic governance.

There are however, those who have countered the above assertions by insisting the Buhari is indeed fighting corruption. In this school of thought is Professor Remi Ajekigbe, Head Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), who insisted that the move against Dasuki and others is not witch-hunt.

“It is not witch-hunt, anybody anywhere that is found wanting should be brought to book. Nigerians are suffering, governments can no longer pay salaries and these monies are with people. If we continue like this, Nigeria will be like Greece. Let Buhari probe them and any of them found wanting should be punished accordingly,” he said.