The Arewa Youth Federation, a body consisting of youths from 19 northern states, has spoken out against the recent demands for the resignation of Mallam Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS).
In a statement released yesterday by the group’s National Coordinator, Malam Kabir Muhammad, they labeled the allegations behind the calls as baseless and unjust.
He described those behind the call as “paid agents who can do anything for money including selling their birthright.”
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“Let it be abundantly clear that Arewa Civil Society Organisations (ACSO) does not exist neither does it have the mandate of the people it pretends to represent.
“As the authentic representatives of our people, we distance ourselves from their threats. The DSS boss and his team are doing a nice job and we stand in solidarity with them.”
The Call for DSS Boss, Bichi’s Resignation
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that the present callings for Bichi’s resignation are linked to the recent face off between the operatives of Department of State Services (DSS), and official of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), over custody of the suspended Central Bank Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele as national embarrassment, which some described as national embarrassment and called for punishment for DSS.
Former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Dave Ajetumobi, who described the face off, called on President Tinubu to sanction DSS for its wrong doing and not to allow it dent the image of his administration.
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Also, the Executive Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, in a statement called for the sanction of DSS for its action which it described as lawlessness and national disgrace.
Group Condemns Call for DSS Boss Resignation
Meanwhile, a Civil Society Organisation, Save Nigerian Movement (SNM), has also condemned call by some individuals and groups for the resignation of Mr Yusuf Bichi, the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS).
The group, in a statement signed by its Convener, Rev. Solomon Semaka, on Saturday in Abuja said the call was the handiwork of high profile criminal suspects currently undergoing trial.
Semaka described the call as a desperate bid by criminal elements to hoodwink Nigerians and curry public sympathy against the service and the Federal Government.
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“The call is a reckless ploy and afterthought, deployed by powerful criminal suspects undergoing trial in line with the rule of law.
“These individuals have resorted to smear campaign against the Federal Government apparently to evade justice and stamp their feet and take control of the system,” he said.
According to him, these high profile and very powerful criminal syndicates already in custody have deployed their enormous financial war against the DSS at the detriment of national security and Nigerians.
“As a frontline Civil Society Organisation, committed to promoting democracy and societal values, we deem it necessary to condemn the purported call for the sack of the DSS boss.
“We also condemned the threats of a nationwide protests by those we consider as crisis entrepreneurs who always avail themselves to be bought by wealthy criminals at the detriment of Nigerians.
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“It is troubling that some Nigerians have sold their conscience to the same corrupt elements that impoverished us while in public office by engaging in criminality instead of service delivery,” he said.
Semaka said the allegations made by the “crisis entrepreneurs’’ against Bichi and the DSS were baseless and a clear case of corruption fighting back.
He said the use of criminally acquired wealth, influence and faceless groups to sponsor campaigns of calumny against the DSS was an old trick that Nigerians would not fall for.
The convener said it was shameful that some greedy Nigerians had teamed up with enemies of the country just because of selfish financial gain.
“This is a clear case of corruption fighting back to overwhelm the state.
“The DSS must do its job and refrain from falling for cheap blackmail as they strive to ensure national security,” he added.