THE Niger Delta Youth Leaders Forum, NDYLF, has condemned the recent invasion by the Department of State Security, DSS, of the Maitama residence of a first class monarch in Bayelsa State, King AJ Turner.
Expressing displeasure over the action of the DSS, National Coordinator, NDYLF, Hon. Ben Ogidi, described the invasion as a desecration.
Ogidi said the well respected monarch was disrespected by the government even as there was no criminal evidence against him and it was not the proper way to treat an elder statesman as a common criminal.
He said: “The way and manner the Department of State Security Service, DSS, is operating clearly shows they are now an organisation used by those in power to oppress and humiliate Nigerians they have not convicted as criminals, and we are not pleased by DSS recent action.
“We in Niger Delta Youth Leaders Forum, NDYLF, describe the DSS action as desecration of the stool of the King of Ogbia Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King AJ Turner, and condemn it entirely because such action cannot be carried out against an emir in any part of the north, where the people under the emir will swiftly react and resist the DSS. The question is ‘why are they doing it to such calibre of traditional ruler of a kingdom in Bayelsa State?’
“The rule of law should be followed by whatever organisation in this country because this is a democratic era in our national life. And we also want the DSS to return immediately all they have carted away from the monarch’s house.”
Ogidi, further stated that the fight against corruption should not be done in an uncivilised manner but according to the rule of law and respect for the fundamental human rights of the people.
“We are not comfortable anymore with the way South-South political and traditional personalities are treated by security operatives, and we see it as a political vendetta and that is not healthy for us as a nation where some persons are taken as political fugitives and their rights abused.
“The fight against corruption should be fought with all sense of civility and right approach and not as if we are in the jungle where anything goes without caution, rather the fundamental rights of the people must be respected by all agencies of the government and not to act the script of some persons”, Ogidi stated.
