“This is Nigeria, not Mali” — Presidency defends DSS over Mailafia saga

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday defended the invitation of Dr Obadiah Mailafia by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his recent comments on the Boko Haram insurgency.

Shehu, who made this known in a session on Channels Television’s “Politics Today”, said the DSS took the right decision.

He stated, “This is Nigeria; this is not Mali … Is this the first time the Department of State Service is inviting people for questioning?

“When somebody claiming to be a responsible citizen makes such a claim as Obadiah Mailafia did, saying that a governor is a commander for Boko Haram and he shouldn’t be asked questions, so what kind of society do we want?” the President’s aide asked.

Meanwhile, Shehu further snapped at those criticising the DSS for the invitation extended to the former CBN deputy governor.

According to him, people find it difficult to adhere to the laws of the country when they are compelled to be law-abiding in foreign nations.

The presidential aide said, “We are living in a country of people who will go to the UK and America and obey all the laws and in our country, when there is enforcement, they start crying… So, what is political about it?”

He also supported the increase in the fine for hate speech to ₦500,000, stressing that the current amount was still not enough to tackle the menace.

“As for the increase in the charge against hate speech, perhaps it’s the assessment of the minister,” Shehu said.

He added, “The ₦500,000 that was emplaced was not being respected, it was not effective in curtailing these things because somebody picking rumour and is going to the radio to announce that … Come on, what are we dealing with?

“There has to be law enforcement in this country as it is happening with our citizens when they go outside the country.”

Recall Daily Times Nigeria had reported that the DSS had invited Mailafia, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on two occasions.

Mailafia was invited and grilled over his claims on a radio programme that the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East were being sponsored by some governors.