…Warns against ‘protecting individuals over the state’
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the conduct of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) during the arrest and detention of activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, describing their actions as unnecessary, intimidating and detrimental to democratic values.
In a statement issued yesterday by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the labour movement expressed disappointment over what it termed the “rowdy scene” and “bullish behaviour” displayed by DSS personnel while taking Sowore into custody.
According to the NLC, the manner in which the operation was carried out was embarrassing for an institution that is expected to operate with professionalism, sophistication and restraint.
The Congress said there was no justification for the dramatic display, questioning the motive behind what it described as a public spectacle. “We are opposed to this kind of drama by our Secret Service, as there was no need for it. Who were they re-enacting this for, anyway?” the statement read.
The labour body also raised concerns over the DSS’s involvement in the matter, arguing that the agency appeared to have assumed the dual roles of accuser and jailer, a responsibility it said properly belongs to the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Ajaero maintained that the constitutional mandate of the DSS is to safeguard the Nigerian state and monitor threats to national security, rather than protect specific individuals or governments at the expense of broader democratic principles. He warned that when security institutions prioritise loyalty to individuals over allegiance to the state, they risk undermining the rule of law and the presumption of innocence guaranteed to every citizen until proven guilty by a competent court. “The Nigerian State is superior to all individuals or governments, and the DSS ought to know the difference,” the NLC president stated.
Drawing historical parallels, Ajaero cited the Watergate scandal in the United States, noting that institutional independence and accountability compelled former President Richard Nixon to resign, stressing that strong institutions, rather than powerful individuals, remain the foundation of a thriving democracy.
He further cautioned that attempts by public institutions to outdo one another in demonstrating loyalty to political leaders could ultimately endanger Nigeria’s democratic system. “We need strong institutions and not strong individuals for our democracy to survive. Strong individuals constitute a threat to democracy anywhere”, he said.
The NLC, therefore, urged security agencies to respect the rights and dignity of citizens, act within the limits of their constitutional responsibilities and uphold democratic norms in the discharge of their duties.
