The Department of State Services on Friday invited the founder of Baze University, Abuja, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, for questioning over public comments security sources described as inciting against the Nigerian State.
The invitation followed rising concerns about his recent statements across various media platforms, particularly those involving his claims of a “constitutional crisis.”
A security source said, “A few days ago, Baba-Ahmed was on national television blaming the judiciary and the military for allowing the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. He even went to the length of inciting the military that it was President Tinubu’s swearing-in that made it possible for them to look you in the face and call you ‘bloody fools’.” The source noted that his remarks were being examined due to their potential impact on the nation’s stability.
Another security source added, “His inflammatory comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension particularly given the sensitivity of Nigeria’s current political climate. It is also disturbing, considering how similar narratives have contributed to instability in countries like Guinea-Bissau and other states.” The source stressed that the concerns were tied to national security rather than politics, saying, “I believe the secret police is treating his comments with caution. It has nothing to do with politics, but the corporate existence of our nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester. The complacency by the judiciary and military in not stopping the inauguration of President Tinubu’s administration as he was quoted leaves much to be desired.”
The source further stated, “Such an invitation aligns with established protocols especially as his description of efforts to improve the security of the nation as a ‘joke’ could agitate public sentiment, weaken trust in state institutions. These sessions are not punitive; they are preventive, focused on clarifying intent, contextualising the remarks, and preventing the emergence of narratives that could unintentionally fuel unrest.”
The development comes at a time when Nigeria remains on edge over heightened political rhetoric, rising insecurity, and ongoing tensions within the political landscape, prompting security agencies to act swiftly on statements deemed capable of inflaming public sentiment.
