Abuja—The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has summoned an emergency meeting in Abuja to deliberate and reach a decision on the continued stay of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, in office in view of his recent activities, which allegedly undermined President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise of free and fair general elections, Leadership reports.
The opposition leaders, in a statement by its Steering Committee Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, expressed worry over alleged repeated involvement of the DSS DG in activities, which they said threatened the very hope for credible elections starting with the numerous alleged legal attacks and plot to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, out of office, which was linked to the DSS.
They also accused the DSS of being behind the recent attempt to stop the currency redesign and cash withdrawal limit policies of the CBN, which will stop vote buyers, and failed plot to remove the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, from office using a fake and fabricated terrorism charges.
The Coalition further expressed concerns over the attack and assault on opposition candidates especially the physical attack and detention of NNPP governorship candidate in Kano State, Abba Yusuf, allegedly on the orders of the DSS DG’s wife, Aisha.
According to them, the DSS failed in their attempt to assassinate the opposition spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, and also failed in their move to frame him for arson to cover the voter register fraud tagged Omuma Magic exposed by him.
The DSS was also accused of the arrest and illegal detention/attack on President of Middle Belt Youth Forum and PDP House of Assembly Candidate, Godwin Meliga, and refused to arrest those behind voter register fraud (Omuma Magic) and other attacks and clampdown on people with opposing views.
CUPP said, “the recent aggressive unwarranted behavior of DSS operatives is becoming a huge source of concern. Over the weeks DSS operatives have deviated from their mandate and resolved to hunt individuals carrying out their constitutionally recognized duties.
“First was the plot to get INEC Chairman and CBN Governor sacked.
“Now we read on the news that Aisha Bichi, the wife of the director-general of the State Security Service, SSS, Yusuf Bichi, has ordered the arrest of the Kano governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Abba Yusuf, and barred him from boarding a Max Air flight from Kano to Abuja on Sunday night.
These acts are signs that the DSS might be one of the problems to a successful 2023 election, hence the need for opposition leaders to meet and take far reaching decision.
The meeting invitation which was signed by Opposition Coalition steering Committee Secretary Peter Ameh/ Labour Party BoT chieftain will have in attendance all members of the opposition alliance at the CUPP Hqrs.”
