The 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has been invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) over comments considered inciting against the Nigerian state.
Sources within the service said the invitation followed concerns about Baba-Ahmed’s recent public remarks.
One of the officers said, “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.
“He even went as far as inciting the military, saying it was President Tinubu’s swearing-in that made it possible for them to look you in the face and call you ‘bloody fools.’
“His comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension, particularly given the sensitivity of Nigeria’s current political climate. It is also concerning, considering how similar narratives have contributed to instability in countries like Guinea-Bissau and others.
“It has nothing to do with politics, but the corporate existence of our nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester.”
Another insider said the DSS invitation was preventive and aimed at clarifying intent.
“Such an invitation aligns with established protocols, especially as his description of efforts to improve national security as a ‘joke’ could agitate public sentiment and weaken trust in state institutions. These sessions are not punitive; they are preventive, focused on clarifying intent, contextualising remarks, and preventing the emergence of narratives that could unintentionally fuel unrest,” the source said.
On Thursday, Baba-Ahmed appeared on Arise News, criticising the Federal Government’s plan to recruit additional security personnel.
He also opposed the President’s advice for state governments to reconsider establishing boarding schools in poorly secured areas, arguing it could allow bandits to influence national policy.
