APC takes on DSS spokesperson over bribe allegation

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken on the spokesperson of the Department of State Service (DSS) Ms. Marilyn Ogar, over her comments on the just concluded election in Osun State.

Marilyn Ogar, Spokesperson, DSS

In a statement signed by the party National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described the comment as baseless and advised that Ms Ogar should speak with knowlege and facts.

APC said ‘’It is sad that a spokesperson for the DSS does not know that there is no offence called ‘loitering’ under the Nigerian laws. For her to now go on national television to say the APC’s National Publicity Secretary was arrested for ‘loitering’ in Osogbo on the eve of the state’s governorship election is the height of ignorance and constitutes a great embarrassment to DSS.

‘’It is even worse that the so-called spokesperson, ever so glib, would make a joke out of such a faux pas by an agency that is supposed to be non-partisan and highly professionalised. How on earth can any human being not be disoriented when 15 hooded gunmen arrested him/her and point their weapons at his/her head as they did to me on that night in Osogbo?

‘’How can a spokesperson for such a sensitive government agency not understand that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides for freedom of movement? On what basis is Ogar questioning what the APC’s National Publicity Secretary was doing in Osun, when the same fellow has not questioned the presence of Musiliu Obanikoro, Chris Uba and the likes in the same state or are those people from Osun State?

‘’Was it not publicly announced that the APC was moving its headquarters to the state to give support to Governor Rauf Aregbesola? Why didn’t Ogar question the presence of President Goodluck Jonathan or Vice-President Namadi Sambo in the state when they came too, if she was been fair? It is sad that Ogar has turned herself to the spokesperson of the PDP by echoing what that party has said on the state election. This is unprofessional and irresponsible,’’ it said.

APC accused the security department of partisanship and unprofessional following its action of arresting its members before, during and after the election, and for also halting the rally planned by the NCL in support of the State governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

The party asked the DSS the following questions:

• ‘’How many PDP leaders were arrested in Osun?


• If the rally by the NLC had been planned in support of the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, would the DSS have aborted it?


• Why must the DSS send hooded gunmen to police an election that is a civic matter?


• Does Ogar bother to read and understand the Nigerian constitution to know the rights of the citizens?’’

APC described the accusation that its party tried to bribe a DSS officer with N14 million during the Osun election as lies, querying why the person who was said to have offered bribe was not arrested by the DSS.

APC said ‘’Apparently, Ogar has never heard of a ‘sting operation’ that is widely used by security agencies to catch a person who is committing a crime. The allegation by Ogar would have been sweet in her mouth had the DSS mounted a sting operation to catch whoever was offering the alleged bribe, and then prosecute him or her,’’ the party said, calling the allegation cheap blackmail by a conspiratorial organisation.

The party advised Ogar and the entire DSS to hide their guns when next they are posted to any election in the country, adding that election is not war but a celebration of democracy.

 

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APC takes on DSS spokesperson over bribe allegation