Fani-Kayode invited by DSS over a coup allegation

A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been invited by the Department of State Services due to claims of a coup plot ahead of the election in February.

In a statement on Monday, Fani-Kayode, a former minister in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, confirmed the invitation.

He continued by saying he would accept the invitation.

According to reports, rumors circulated last week that top military officials had meetings with politicians, including PDP presidential contender Atiku Abubakar, in an effort to thwart the February 25 general election. Fani-Kayode made this allegation in a tweet.

He further said that the gathering might be part of a plan to incite a coup and install an undemocratic government.

But on Saturday, February 12, 2023, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, the acting director of defense information, urged Nigerians to overlook Fani-tweets Kayode’s and emphasized the armed forces’ fidelity to the constitution in a statement.

Gusau also expressed shock that those who had been exposed to politics had degraded themselves by associating with agents of instability.

He said: “It needs to be stated that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is a professional military that is loyal to the Constitution of the Federal Republic and will never be part of any evil plot against our democracy. Besides, the military remains apolitical and neutral in the current political process and will not engage in the alleged shenanigans.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria will never be part of any ignoble plot to truncate our hard-earned democracy.”

In retaliation, Atiku requested the DSS and other security agencies to call Fani-Kayode to explain his allegations of a coup d’état by top army generals and himself in a statement by his Special Assistant for Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu.

He wrote, “Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have bothered responding to Fani-Kayode who has over the years built a reputation of being an inveterate liar so much so that he was even publicly blacklisted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists after his disgraceful outburst at a journalist.

“However, allegations and insinuations of a coup should not be taken lightly given the fact that it is treason, an offence that carries the death penalty.

“While commending the Nigerian military for effectively rubbishing Fani-Kayode’s barefaced lie, we call on security agencies to invite him to shed more light on the allegations.”

Meanwhile, the former minister thanked the army in a tweet for clearing up the rumored meeting between army officials and Atiku after the Defence Headquarters’ statement through Gusau.

He wrote, “Happy that the newspaper report I referred to has proved to be FALSE. As I said, “if true”, it would have been troubling. I commend the Military for their commitment to democracy.

“The fact that they can respond so quickly when we raise concerns is encouraging and proves that they are not only responsive and responsible but that we are also on the same page when it comes to civic duties, the rule of law, civilian rule, an open society and democracy.”

He also asserted that he had simply raised “questions about few rogue officers who, according to media accounts, supposedly met with Atiku.” He further denied accusing the military of plotting to sabotage the election and spark a coup attempt.

He added, “Thankfully, those reports have been debunked and proved to be unfounded. There is no gain saying that I have implicit confidence in the military and its High Command as an institution and I trust in their commitment to democracy which has been confirmed and proved over the last 24 years since the return of civilian rule in 1999. I would encourage them to continue to be watchful and alert and to continue their good work by supporting, protecting, and sustaining our democracy.”

Fani-Kayode attempted to retract the statement, but Atiku’s spokesperson, Shuaib, rejected it and called it belated.