Detained former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Gordon Obuah, yesterday spoke out on his travail with the Department of State Services (DSS). Obuah, who has been in detention since last week, told reporters in Abuja at a press conference organised by the secret police that he was held so as to give account of his stewardship under Jonathan.
The press conference was organised against the backdrop of report that Obuah, who was held incommunicado since his detention, fell ill and died as a result of the hunger strike he allegedly embarked on to protest his alleged denial to his family, lawyers and medications for his diabetes. But he dismissed report of being ill treated and of dying. He said he was hale and hearty and remained a member of staff of the DSS. According to him, having completed his tour of duties as Jonathan’s CSO, the DSS wants him to give account of his stewardship.
Obuah, who was calm throughout the brief period of the briefing where he was not allowed to answer questions, described the DSS as a responsible organisation. He said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians and members of my family, who have expressed serious concerns for the past six days because of the prevailing situation between my office and I. “This morning, my attention was drawn to the fact that I had died in detention. This has caused very serious anxiety within the polity.
“I’m healthy; I’m a staff of the DSS, and having completed my services to the past president, the Service feels that I should give account of my service. “So far, there is no adverse situation and I’m optimistic that Nigerians will be availed the outcome of the situation. “Nigerians should be assured that the DSS is a very responsible service and I believe that nothing adverse will be done to my person since I’m a member of the DSS and I’m still in service. I have limitations on addressing the press.”
Efforts by New Telegraph to get more details on the Obuah detention were futile yesterday as the DSS is yet to announce a replacement for its former spokesperson, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar. Obuah spoke just as Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, warned the Federal Government against allowing Jonathan’s former security chief to die in detention.
The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, Fayose said it was unlawful for Obuah to have been detained since July 16 without a court order. “We read in the newspapers that Obuah was denied access to his doctor, lawyer and family members – and his lawyer claimed on Sunday that Obuah was also denied his medications for hypertension and diabetes.
Today, we have heard that Obuah fainted yesterday and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment, prompting rumour of his death. “Even when he was made to address the press today (yesterday), he looked frail, and was barred from answering questions from journalists, ostensibly for security reasons. “This is not democracy! Democracy is about the rule of law and no one should be dumped in detention, without any reason, without any court order for five days as being done to the CSO. “If there is anything the (former) CSO did against the law, he should be taken to court because no institution in Nigeria is above the laws of the land and no one will be allowed to return Nigeria to the era of dictatorship,” Fayose said.
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