Public affairs analyst and columnist, Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, has described the Department of State Services (DSS) as gracious and professional in its handling of activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
However, he said the agency’s conduct should not absolve it of its responsibility to conclude the cyberbullying trial involving the activist.
Ughegbe spoke on Channels Television on Sunday during a discussion on allegations surrounding the reported attack on Sowore and his supporters at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He recalled that the DSS Director-General had reportedly considered suspending Sowore’s trial to allow him to concentrate on his presidential ambition, but the activist initially rejected the proposal.
“It is public knowledge that at some point the DSS DG was reported to be considering suspending the trial to enable Sowore time to concentrate on his presidential election ambition,” he said.
Ughegbe added that Sowore later approached the same court seeking an adjournment to participate in political activities, describing the development as contradictory.
He also alleged that the activist recently wrote directly to the court, bypassing his legal counsel, to request more time for his political engagements.
Praising the DSS under its current leadership, Ughegbe described it as one of the more professional security institutions in the country, despite Sowore’s frequent public criticism.
He, however, said the agency should remain open to public scrutiny and accountability over allegations against it.
The analyst also argued that Sowore’s involvement in politics meant his public statements and actions should be subjected to the same scrutiny as those of other political actors.
“That you are a part-time activist or politician does not equally place you above scrutiny. The fact that Sowore is a political actor in the upcoming presidential election is the more reason why we should scrutinise every one of his words and actions, to ensure that those who want to lead us lead by example,” he said.
By: Favour Olushola
