A
coalition of Ethnic Nationalities yesterday protested the alleged persecution
of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s family members by the Department of
State Services (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “under
the guise of war against corruption”.
The
groups claimed that operatives of DSS, EFCC and National Drugs Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) invaded the Abuja residence of Mrs. Patience Jonathan in her
absence.
The
protesters, who were heading for the National Assembly, were stopped at the
Federal Secretariat, by a group of policemen.
Some
of the protesters, however, assembled at the first gate to the National
Assembly, where they addressed reporters on their mission to Abuja.
The
protesting groups included Ijaw Youths, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths, Arewa Youth
Consultative Forum and Yoruba Youth Council.
They
expressed displeasure over the ongoing trial of the former First Lady and a cousin
of the former president, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, by EFCC on what
they described as “phantom charges”.
The
protesters, who displayed various inscriptions lampooning the EFCC and the DSS,
urged the National Assembly and other concerned Nigerians to intervene.
In
a letter, the groups appealed to the National Assembly leadership to call “DSS,
EFCC and NDLEA to order over alleged witch-hunting against the former
President’s family members”.
They
asked the National Assembly to ensure that the agencies adhered strictly to the
principle of rule of law in their operations.
They
said: “An agency set up by an Act of Parliament can definitely not be allowed
to be turned into a tool for witch-hunting of perceived enemies by any
government in power.”
Leaders
of the groups included Bristol Alagbariya Emmanuel (Secretary-General, Ijaw
Youth Council), Eric Oluwole (National President, Yoruba Youths Council) and
Mazi Okechukwu (National Youth leader, Ohanaeze).
Source:The
Nation
Tags
Politics