The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday summoned Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, founder of Baze University and 2023 Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, over comments considered by security agencies as inciting against the Nigerian state.
A source in Abuja told Vanguard that the invitation followed concerns over Baba-Ahmed’s recent remarks, particularly statements described as bordering on a “constitutional crisis.”
“A few days ago, Baba-Ahmed was on national television blaming the judiciary and the military for allowing the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. He even went to the extent of inciting the military that it was President Tinubu’s swearing-in that made it possible for them to look you in the face and call you ‘bl%ody f%ols,’” the source said.
The official added, “His inflammatory comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension, particularly given the sensitivity of Nigeria’s current political climate. It is also disturbing considering how similar narratives have contributed to instability in countries like Guinea-Bissau and other states.”
“I believe the secret police is treating his comments with caution. It has nothing to do with politics, but the corporate existence of our nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester,” the source continued.
He noted that Baba-Ahmed’s description of efforts to improve national security as a “joke” could agitate public sentiment and weaken trust in state institutions. “These sessions are not punitive but are preventive, focused on clarifying intent, contextualizing the remarks, and preventing the emergence of narratives that could unintentionally fuel unrest,” the source concluded.
