Ex-DSS Chief speaks on insecurity, expresses doubt over 2023 elections

A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor on Monday warned that the 2023 general elections would not hold over the rising insecurity situation in the country.

Ejiofor, who featured on Channels Television’s Sunrise, tasked the federal government to urgently tackle insecurity head-on.

According to him, “If we don’t get these things right before 2023 elections, if we don’t get these things sorted out the various security challenges in the various geopolitical zones, I can assure you that there won’t be elections.

“There will be a crisis in this country, there will be anarchy. We need to sort out this thing before 2023.

“Let us talk about this country before talking about elections. If we continue like this, there won’t be elections in 2023 because of series of agitations.”

Amid the serial security challenges facing the country, Ejiofor supported several calls for restructuring, averring that the move would help solve the various national issues.

The security chief also faulted a situation whereby states would converge at Abuja on a monthly basis to collect allocation, adding that if governments look inward, the states can survive without the periodic revenue.

He also reacted to the controversy trailing the past extremist religious views of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami.

Pantami had for the first time acknowledged his past views but noted that he has since renounced those radical assertions.

The Minister said the past radical ideas he was championing were due to age, immaturity, and limited knowledge. This excuse however has not calmed the Twitter storm which is threatening to sweep him from office.

Ejiofor , however said there is no way the DSS wouldn’t have done a thorough check before his appointment as Minister in 2015.

He recalled that the secret service had prompted the Senate via a report which barred the National Assembly from confirming the appointment of a former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

“I am not the spokesperson of the SSS but I can tell you that it would be difficult for that information to have passed the State Security Service.

“They must have it on record of his sympathy for Al-Qaeda and some of these terrorist organisations. If the State Security Service submits a report on an individual to government and government fails to act on it, who is to blame?” he questioned.