The National Consultative Front (NCFront) and the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) have condemned the invitation to one of NCFront’s Co-convener and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Na’Abba, by the Department of State Services (DSS), OBSERVERS TIMES learnt.
CNG accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of becoming more intolerant of opposition and criticism and gradually dragging the country towards becoming a police state.
NCFront, however, said it would lead a rally from its office in Abuja to accompany Na’Abba to honour the DSS’ invitation.
In a statement issued by Public Affairs Bureau, NCFront urged its members and sympathisers to converge on its national headquarters in Abuja for a major rally to solidarise with Na’Abba.
NCFront had claimed last week that DSS had invited Na’Abba, for calling on all Nigerians of conscience to join NCFront, a pressure group, in rescuing and saving Nigeria from anarchy and fear of impending doom.
Na’Abba had at a press conference on Monday appealed to citizens to join forces in creating a new Nigeria that works for all, stating that the way and manner governance is conducted suggests a high degree of irresponsibility at all levels.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, our only interest lies in creating inclusive democratic governance which is a sin qua none towards the provision of a decent living condition for the people and also the facilitation of prosperity for every Nigerian citizen.
“It is our desire to rescue our fellow citizens from the viper-like grip of poverty, while creating jobs for our teeming youths and masses, the majority of whom are roaming the streets of our country rudderlessly and hopelessly as we speak.”
NCFront yesterday called on all its organs, structures and allies nationwide to join the solidarity gathering today to escort Na’Abba who is one of its co-founders to the DSS headquarters.
CNG, in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed concern about the current administration becoming intolerant of opposition and criticism and turning the country into a police state.
According to it, “We find this attempt to harass Na’Abba, a senior citizen and critical stakeholder in the nation’s democratic process, a brutal encroachment on the universal citizens’ right to freedom of expression, which is a fundamental characteristic of any democratic state.”