Security Service Questions Labour Party Leader
The Department of State Services has reportedly summoned Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed following controversial statements he made about Nigeria's political situation. The invitation was extended on Friday, November 28, according to security sources familiar with the matter.
Television Remarks Spark Concern
Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed that the DSS acted due to growing unease about Baba-Ahmed's recent media appearances. The former vice presidential candidate to Peter Obi in the 2023 elections had made statements bordering on what he termed a "constitutional crisis" in Nigeria.
A security source provided specific details about the concerning comments. "A few days ago, Baba-Ahmed was on national television blaming the judiciary and the military for allowing the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima", the source disclosed.
The source further explained that Baba-Ahmed allegedly incited the military by suggesting that President Tinubu's inauguration enabled disrespect toward security personnel. The Labour Party figure reportedly claimed this situation made it possible for people to call military personnel "bloody fools" to their faces.
National Security Implications
Security authorities consider these remarks particularly dangerous given Nigeria's current political climate. The source noted that "inflammatory comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension" and pointed to how similar narratives contributed to instability in other African nations like Guinea-Bissau.
The DSS approach appears precautionary rather than punitive. "These sessions are not punitive; they are preventive, focused on clarifying intent, contextualizing the remarks, and preventing the emergence of narratives that could unintentionally fuel unrest", the security source emphasized.
Authorities are especially concerned about comments that could weaken public trust in state institutions. Baba-Ahmed's description of efforts to improve national security as a "joke" was specifically mentioned as potentially agitating public sentiment and undermining confidence in governance structures.
The security source concluded that the invitation aligns with standard protocols for addressing statements that might threaten national cohesion. The primary concern remains preserving Nigeria's corporate existence amid challenging political circumstances.
