Suspected criminal syndicates, ganging up against DGSS, calling for his sack, SNM alerts

*Dismisses call for protests

*As Group passes vote of confidence in Tinubu, DSS leadership

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Some suspected criminal elements, who would stop at nothing to ensure that efforts of government and its security agencies to make Nigeria better away from design of their evil.machinations, have been fingered in the unpatriotic calls for sack or resignation of Director General of the Department of State Services (DGSS), Alhaji Yusuf Magagi Bichi.

This alert was raised by a Civil Society Organisation known as Save Nigerian Movement (SNM), which insisted that the recent call for the sack of the DGSS was the handiwork of high profile criminal suspects currently undergoing trial for various crimes of multiple dimensions.

To the syndicates, they are rather let loose in their crim8nal misdeeds while the nation and the people continue to be atvthe mercy of their evil activities, the CSO among several other groups and citizens, who feel better with ‘great’ job the DSS is doing for the country, said “no way”.

Describing such call as a desperate bid by criminal elements to hoodwink Nigerians and curry public sympathy against the Service in particular and the federal government in general, SNM in a statement signed by its Convener, Rev. Solomon Semaka, noted that such action was a reckless ploy and after-thought deployed by powerful criminal suspects undergoing trial in line with the rule of law.

“These individuals have resorted to smear campaign against the federal government apparently in a bid to evade justice and stamp their feet and take control of the system

“These high profile and very powerful criminal syndicates already in custody have deployed their enormous financial war chest in a battle of vendatta against the service at the detriment of national security and Nigerians.

“As a frontline Civil Society Organisation committed to promoting democracy and societal values, we deem it necessary to condemn the purported call for the sack of the leadership of the DSS and threats of a nationwide protests by those we consider as crisis entrepreneurs who always avail themselves to be bought by wealthy criminals at the detriment of Nigerians.

“It is troubling that some Nigerians have sold their conscience to the same corrupt elements that impoverished us while in public office, indulging in all forms of criminality instead of service to the nation. The allegations made by these crisis entrepreneurs against Bichi and the DSS are baseless to say the least and a clear case of corruption fighting back.

“We have no doubt that this is a sinister plan to blackmail the federal government and its security agencies especially the DSS from going on with some high profile corrupt cases it is currently handling including that of the former Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the suspended EFCC chair just to mention a few.

“We must emphasize and warn these criminal elements that using their criminal wealth ,influence and faceless groups to sponsor campaigns of calumny against the DSS is an old trick and Nigerians must not fall for it. It is shameful that some greedy Nigerians have teamed up with enemies of the country just because of selfish financial gain” . This is a clear case of corruption fighting back to overwhelm the state.

“The DSS must do its job and refrain from falling for cheap blackmail as they strive to ensure national security,” it said.

The group maintained that the DSS under Yusuf Magagi Bichi has demonstrated commitment to maintaining internal security and should be commended rather than attacked by sponsored elements emphasizing that Nigerians have confidence in the ability of DSS to effectively prosecute all criminal elements who try to undermine Nigeria’s national security no matter how highly placed.

“We urge Nigerians to question the motives behind the faceless groups and lawyers who only seek justice for the wealthy regardless of their heinous crimes against humanity and the nation. Under normal circumstances, these groups should instead be fighting for the interests of the poor but the reverse is the case, this is curious and suspect”, the statement added.

The group passed a vote of confidence on the DSS and its leadership and urged Nigerians to disregard the so-called protests and remain focused on efforts aimed at stabilizing the country and building a secured and prosperous nation for all Nigerians.