Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has accused the Department of State Services of usurping the powers of the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by arresting officials of his government over alleged financial matters.
Fayose said this in his official reaction to the Federal High Court’s ruling delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo in Ado Ekiti on Friday, ordering the DSS to release a detained lawmaker, Afolabi Akanni, with immediate effect.
The Finance Commissioner, Mr. Toyin Ojo, who was also arrested by the DSS, had been released after interrogation.
Fayose said, “Beyond this judgment, I have always said that the DSS are taking on more than their brief. They have become an instrument of oppression. They are now taking up the job of the police, the EFCC and all other security agencies.
“You would recall that they were at the Akwa Ibom government House to harass the governor. They came to Ekiti too to do the same thing. But this is Ekiti, they are taking on a wrong customer.”
The governor, also chided the Federal Government, saying those in authority have been chasing shadows in their desperation to impeach him at all costs.
He said, “May be they think this will make me to stop criticising the bad policies of the APC Buhari-led government, no! Let me make it very clear to them that the majority would have their way, the minority would have their say.”
The DSS also arrested Mr. Ropo Ogunjobi, who was recently sacked by the governor as the Chairman of State Internal Revenue Board.
Fayose added, “Ours is to continue to help democracy to grow and to help the average man get dividends of democracy by keeping the government in power on its toes. Harassing me would make their government unpopular, I have said that before, and attempting to take me on would bring down their government.
“I’m entitled to my opinion, how would DSS be investigating the finances of a state? That is taking it too far. How would DSS detain somebody without a court order, and detaining him for one, two weeks?
“Anybody who is supporting this act, one day it would be your turn, it is Ekiti today. I urge all Nigerians to rise up and oppose this act of oppression; this country belongs to all of us.
“It is time to stop this harassment, taking away the rights of humanity, taking away the rights of Nigerians. Anything that would take away our rights should be confronted headlong and be stopped. When they finish with politicians, they would take on lawyers and even the journalists,” he said.
