Former NSA’s House Arrest Illegal – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday described the travails of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki, at the hands of security operatives as illegal and unconstitutional.

The party alleged said that restricted movement on the former NSA as occasioned by the security operatives was against the tenets of democracy, noting that Nigerians are becoming scared.

The national publicity secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh, who disclosed this to newsmen who monitored events around the premises at 12:55, recounted that he was refused entry by security operatives on account that the house was under security watch.

Metuh who said he had the mandate of the party to visit the former NSA, described the scenario as political persecution as the security restriction on the former NSA’s house is illegal and unconstitutional.

Earlier, attempts by a couple to gain entry into the residence of Dasuki were politely rebuffed by security operatives at the gate. The couple came in a fawn colored Kia Saloon car at 12:33 and left at 12:35.

It was however gathered that the former NSA was in his residence as at time of these visits.

There were no barricades around the premises and traffic flowed without restrictions. There was also no restriction of movements by pedestrians around the house save for attempts to enter the residence proper.

He said “I came into Abuja today because I read the situation about the invasion of the house of the former NSA and his detention and house arrest. So, I drove to his house as a personal friend to see him and to find out what is happening. Then about seven or eight security operatives came out and they said that I cannot see him because the house is under security watch. And I asked them, security watch in terms of treason or terrorism? And they said they are not in a position to say.

“And why I asked this question is that if he is under security watch on account of corruption or any other reason, then it’s totally against the constitution of this country because this is a democracy and democratic tenets and principles apply. The fact is that we deserve basic freedom, liberty and movements associated with democracy.

“The truth is that Nigerians are getting scared. They voted for the President and he was duly elected. And now he’s the father of the nation, he’s the father of everyone. He’s not serving any other interest. But they are certain activities by some of his aides and people around him; it’s like they are taking us back to the military era where we were coming from. The last time this happened was under the military. There has never been any situation where people will be held against their will. It is completely against his fundamental human rights. And we should be careful here because this was how it started in Zimbabwe and other countries. Before you know it we have a dictatorship. You cannot scare us.

“We are not guilty because we served under a former President. We are not guilty because we lost an election. We are not losers in a war. We lost an election, not a war. We are not prisoners of war and we should not be treated like prisoners of war.

“What we demand is that we deserve the respect; there is Rule of Law. We will not condone corrupt activities or any other unlawful or illegal act. If anybody has committed anything against the laws of Nigeria, let him be invited, let there be investigation. If there is a warrant of arrest or a judge can rule that he should be detained but the fact that you shroud things in mystery and you invade someone’s house, occupy his house and detain him against his will. It’s an anathema in democracy.

“Please, Mr President, father of our nation, we ask for basic respect for human rights. Let our inalienable rights be observed and respected in a democracy. Freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What is happening here now is totally against the tenets of democracy.”