By Mike Oboh
The Forum of Nigerians in Francophone speaking countries in the West and Central African region has commended the Department of State Security in Nigeria for being alive to its responsibilities as an institution focused on the preservation of national security.
The views of the forum were conveyed in a communiqué at the end of her 59th independence anniversary reunion held at Hotel Tahiti Quarter Jak , Benin Republic and signed by its president, Dr Isaac Oduma .
The forum expressed abiding faith in the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies particularly the Department of State Security for its many years of dedicated service delivery to the nation.
“The country is blessed with an outstanding institution in the Department of State Security and above all a committed leadership that is passionate about new reforms and keeping to the objectives of the institution,” the forum stated.
The body commended the sagacity and ingenuity of President Buhari for the supportive roles he has always played as the commander in chief of Nigeria.
The group noted with satisfaction that the country through the DSS has been exceptionally professional in the handling of issues that would otherwise dismember the country if left unattended to.
“ You will recall ladies gentlemen that about a two months ago, some citizens had put it on record to overthrow a legally constituted government in our country Nigeria and also disarm the department of state security” this to my knowledge, is the most deafening, unpatriotic and unwholesome intention I have ever heard since the return of democracy” and so, on behalf of the Nigerian people in the Francophone speaking countries in West and Central Africa, i must say we are totally satisfied and pleased with the proactive measures utilised by the state security service,” Oduma said.
He noted that without the current proactive approach employed by the agency, no one would have guaranteed the country’s existence today as we celebrate 59 years of independence.
“Our challenges are still much but the road to development is not by virtue of outlawing Society with her laws, conventions and values.
“We have families and investments back home and to think a Nigerian whose family is nationalised in the United States and United Kingdom would contemplate and fund a revolution for parochial interest is not only unfortunate but regrettably repugnant to the values we hold as Nigerians.
“Never in the history of our national existence has a government been overthrown through a forceful means in a democratic setting such as we have today and wondered why any sane mind would initiate or suggest that path just after losing an election,” he said.
The group said as diapora citizens, his group contributes the highest foreign investments back home to enhance the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign reserves and therefore could not fold their arms to watch the country go down through illicit means.
The group insisted that the vote of confidence passed on the department of state security and her leadership was borne out of a deep conviction of the majority of the members. It said the decision was made through her 37th resolution in the forum general assembly held in commemoration of the country’s 59 years independence anniversary.
The diaspora forum urged the leadership of other security agencies to emulate and compliment the department of state security despite recurring blackmail and arm twisting by paid media and legal merchants whose interests are first before that of the national security.
