The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government Monday distanced itself from the allegations that it’s the brain behind the invitation extended to the former Speaker of House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, by the Department of State Service on account of his alleged comments at the President.
Na’bba was invited by DSS for questioning, four days after he made critical comments about the Buhari administration.
The former speaker, who is also a co-chairman of the newly formed National Consultative Front (NCFront), had, in a television broadcast, described Nigeria as a failed state, listing unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship as some of the factors which indicated that the present government “is incompetent.”
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But, Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said preliminary feedback indicated that Na’bba’s invitation was in no way connected to his utterances regarding the state of affairs of the country.
The statement reads in part: “The Presidency distances itself from the allegations that it has anything to do with the invitation extended to Ghali Na’Abba by the Department of State Service on account of his alleged comments at President Buhari.
“Preliminary feedback received by the Presidency seem to indicate that the invitation of Umar Ghali Na’Abba, was in no way connected to his utterances regarding the state of affairs of the country. Mr. President realises the value of having an active opposition party having emerged through that process as well.
“Mr. President has consistently made it his wish to deliver an electoral process that is free and fair that ensures that the electorate are given a free hand for their votes to count. Anything short of such a process would be counter-productive.
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“As the nation continues to pull together to confront this common enemy that has no regard for race, religion, language or ethnic grouping, we once again encourage citizens to engage in discourses that can help support our vision of a United Nigeria, that maintains food security. secures it citizens and provides a pipeline of opportunities to our teeming youthful population.”
Idowu Sowunmi
