The Network of Civil Society Groups, a coalition of about 87 Civil Society Organizations, has raised alarm over a purported plot by unnamed foreign interests to destabilize Nigeria.
The President of the Group, Barr. Kamal Adefila in a statement issued in Abuja also called on the media to stand up and defend Nigeria’s democracy and continued corporate existence, in its capacity as the fourth estate of the realm.
Barr. Adefila expressed concern over what he termed as “a clandestine plot, being hatched by some foreign interests and executed by their paid hacks in Nigeria, which is aimed at destabilizing our country and bringing the name of the government into disrepute.
“It is poignant that the strategy they have chosen to adopt beats the hallmarks of those behind the plot, based on their attempts in the past.”
Barr Adefila condemned “the recent media attacks against the person and the family of the Director-General of the Department of State Security, Yusuf Bichi, saying the publication “clearly shows that the desperation of these mercenaries and their paymasters is at an all time high.”
He questioned the professional conduct of a certain media platform it violated “the principle of fair hearing on which professional journalism is built.”
While positing that “for a supposed media platform to publish a story, without verifiable proof or making an effort to balance their stories by reaching out to the persons involved, betrays the true motive of such an organization.”
Barr. Adefila noted that “the current security challenges in parts of the country can be traced to a number of these interests and their attempts to blackmail and intimidate a patriot, may not be unconnected with the fact that the DSS under the leadership of Mr. Bichi has been matching them through proactive counter intelligence operations.”
The President of the Civil Society Groups also took time “to warn those behind this plot against the people of Nigeria to desist from further dignifying the lie being peddled in the international circles that Nigeria is divided and not sustainable as a sovereign entity.”
