The Department of State Services has confirmed the invitation of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani-Kayode, over his allegation of plans by some military personnel to seize power.
Fani-Kayode had in a series of tweets on Saturday claimed some military personnel met with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to scuttle the 2023 polls as well as plot a coup.
The military had since denied the allegations, pledging its loyalty to the constitution and the democratic system in place.
On Monday morning, Fani-Kayode, however, announced that he had been invited by the DSS, but said he would honour the invitation because he had nothing to fear.
In a short message sent to our correspondent, the spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, said Fani-Kayode arrived at the service office at 9 am on Monday.
He said, ” Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has been with the DSS since 9 am today 13/02/23. In response to the invitation extended to him by the Service.”
Meanwhile, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has commended the Department of State Services for inviting the Director of Special Projects and New media of the Tinubu/Shettima presidential campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, to explain his allegations and insinuations of an attempted coup being planned by Atiku and top generals.
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, Atiku called on the DSS not to leave any stone unturned in the course of investigation.
He stated, “We commend the DSS for the swift invitation sent out to Fani-Kayode. He must be made to explain his allegation of an attempted coup being planned by Atiku Abubakar who even during the military regime never attempted to topple the government despite having the resources.
“Fani-Kayode must also be made to reveal the identities of the so-called army generals who are plotting to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Shaibu, who described Fani-Kayode’s attempt to withdraw his comments as an afterthought, said there was an urgent need for the DSS and Nigerian authorities to ensure that the military is not brought into partisan politics.
He added, “Nigerians suffered for nearly 30 non-consecutive years battling military dictatorship. The military has since 1999 pledged its loyalty to civilian authority and returned to the barracks. Unfortunately, Fani-Kayode and others in Tinbubu’s camp have continued to prod the military by making allegations of coups and interim government.
“Fani-Kayode cannot be acting alone since he is the spokesman for Tinubu. Fani-Kayode and his ilk have been prodding the military for the last one month, talking about how they plan to install an interim government.
“In reaction, President Buhari set up a transition committee that will midwife a smooth transition of another government on May 29. Despite this, the likes of Fani-Kayode have continued to prod the military, propagating theories of coups.”
On his part, the former Minister of Aviation and one of the Spokesmen, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has confirmed that the Department of State Services,DSS has invited him for questioning.
Specifically, the APC PCC member also revealed that his invitation was not influenced by the call made by PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for the DSS to invite him over alleged coup plot claims.Fani -Kayode said the invitation had been extended to him before Atiku’s call.
The former minister disclosed this in a statement emailed to Newsdiaryonline, saying: “Three days ago, on the day that I tweeted about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku was secretly meeting with Army Generals, I received a text message from someone who claimed to be a DSS officer asking me to report to them on a matter of national security.
“I dismissed the invitation because it was vague and I was not sure whether it really came from the DSS.
“In any case I had no intention of going anywhere unless I was formally invited.
“To my surprise I received a formal letter from them to report to their office without fail two days later, which was yesterday evening.
“I put a call through to them and was advised to take the matter very seriously and report to them on the stipulated day and time otherwise the worse may happen.
“I found it interesting that a call came from one of Atiku’s dogs for me to be arrested by the security agencies yesterday and had it not been for the fact that the DSS had actually sent a text to me two days earlier I may have thought that they were acting on the instructions of what can only be described as a hopeless and desperate presidential candidate, opposition party and PCC who are clutching at straws, drowning fast, seeking to silence those that give them sleepless nights, shivering in despair and staring defeat in the face in the upcoming presidential election.
“Clearly the DSS were not influenced by Atiku and were simply doing their job by inviting me on a matter that needs explanation and clarification and for a thorough interrogation .
