Sack of DSS DG move to save Nigeria’s democracy from total collapse ― Olu Falae

THE former Secretary to Government of the Federation, (SGF) Chief Olu Falae, on Tuesday, described the sack of the Director General, of Department for State Security, Lawan Musa Daura, as welcome development to save the nation’s democracy from total collapse.

Falae who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, after the state congress of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), said the action of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has helped to stabilise Nigerian polity and saved the nation’s democracy from total collapse.

Falae who called for punishment for any erring public officers in the country said “If a public functionary did what was a rape on the constitution, I think the Acting president did what was right.

“Every public officer that forgets that he is a public officer not to serve political parties but the people should be dealt with accordingly. They may be in power but they must remain non-partisan.”

Daura sack followed the barricade of the National Assembly by men of the State Security Service which prevented lawmakers, journalists and staff from entering the National Assembly.

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Falae while speaking on the alliance of SDP with other 39 political parties in the country to oust President Muhammadu Buhari in the next year general election, said the coming together of the parties became imperative because of the terrible situation confronting the nation.

He said “the purpose of the alliance is regime change. The regime has been unable to protect the lives and properties of its citizens.

“Any government that fails to attend to the plight of its citizen loses all legitimacy and our own government in Nigeria is unable to do that and therefore does not qualify to continue to govern us.

“If the military takes over and it can protect the lives of the citizens, it would be recognised even if it lacks legitimacy.

“If 40 parties are together, it will be a deterrent to rigging of the APC. The joint candidate may not come f It may come from any of the smaller political parties.

He, however, said that the alliance should not be seen as PDP show, noting that similar coalition was formed in Senegal and Gambia where credible Presidential candidates emerged and won elections.

“This alliance is about producing a joint president by all the parties and not to join in the production of PDP candidate, but to produce a joint presidential candidate.

“We cannot merge or absorbed by any political party. It does not follow that PDP would produce a joint presidential candidate, it may not even come from any of the political parties in or out of the alliance.

“The terrible situation that confronts us in Nigeria is the reason we all agreed to come together. Ordinarily, everybody will like to win the presidency by itself.

“We now recognize that it is much easier to win the election if we form an alliance. I did mention that two other African countries have done what we are planning to do; Senegal and Gambia and that in both cases the alliance parties did not choose their candidates from the biggest opposition party among the alliance. They pick their candidate from the party that has a better brand and they won the election.

Falae, however, stated that SDP will contest all elections including the nomination of the joint presidential ticket, saying personal interest would affect the alliance saying “there was a personal interest in Gambia; there was a personal interest in Senegal. I don’t know how the candidate will emerge, but we will work it out.

The Chairman of SDP in the state, Chief Korede Duyile, decried the use of money to induce voters during elections in the country.

He said “what we now have in the country is money trick, not politics. Those stealing money from the public are using the money to buy votes. Time is coming when people will vote for integrity. That time, we will be the party to vote.”

He, however, said the elective congress organised by the party in the state is to accommodate those who joined the party and fill the positions of those who have defected from the party.