The Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party and founder of Baze University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, for questioning over what security authorities describe as sustained public remarks deemed inciting and capable of undermining national stability.
According to reports, a senior security source who spoke on condition of anonymity said concerns had been growing within security circles over Baba-Ahmed’s recent comments across various media platforms, particularly his repeated assertion that Nigeria is presently facing a “constitutional crisis.”
The source noted that in a recent television interview, Baba-Ahmed accused both the judiciary and the military of facilitating the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
“He even went as far as inciting the military, claiming that President Tinubu’s swearing-in is what now emboldens them to ‘look you in the face and call you bloody fools,’” the operative alleged.
Security officials fear the comments carry inflammatory undertones capable of heightening political tension in an already delicate national environment.
The official added that similar rhetoric has contributed to political instability in countries such as Guinea-Bissau.
“I believe the secret police is handling his remarks cautiously. This has nothing to do with politics. The corporate existence of the nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester,” the source said.
The official further noted that Baba-Ahmed’s criticism of the judiciary and military for not preventing the inauguration of the Tinubu administration was troubling.
He also referenced the senator’s reported dismissal of government efforts to strengthen security as a “joke,” saying such comments could inflame public sentiment and weaken trust in key state institutions.
The DSS invitation, according to the source, aligns with standard national-security procedures aimed at preventing the escalation of narratives capable of destabilising the country.
“These sessions are not punitive; they are preventive. They are intended to clarify intent, provide context for the remarks, and ensure that narratives that could inadvertently trigger unrest are addressed promptly,” the official added.
