The Labour Party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has narrated what he described as a brief but unsettling encounter with operatives of the Department of State Services, saying it was a “mild Nollywood drama.”
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He said his encounter with DSS officers made him feel sorry for the country.
Baba-Ahmed, who also doubles as the founder and chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, made the disclosure while speaking with Saturday PUNCH.
The 2027 presidential aspirant also denied being invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, saying the anti-graft agency had no reason to summon him.
“The EFCC did not invite me, and it is very unlikely they will anytime soon. However, there was a mild Nollywood drama between some gentlemen of the DSS and myself on November 28, 2025. It lasted just two hours and 15 minutes,” he said.
Recounting the encounter with the DSS, Baba-Ahmed said he voluntarily honoured the agency’s request, curious about the motive behind it.
“To sum it all up, I walked into their national headquarters very curious, wondering: Why are you looking for me? I’m not a criminal. The criminals are in your offices and in your corridors of power.
“But anyway, here I am. Talk to me. What do you want? I came out feeling very sorry for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If these are who you call our leaders, then I understand why the United States of America will have to come and attack terrorists on behalf of Nigerian forces. I feel sorry for us.”
According to him, the interaction left him deeply concerned about the state of leadership and governance in the country.
“But yes, a Nollywood drama played out. They pleaded with me that, please, you know, this government is very weak. And the way you’re punching, it can crash. Now listen, these are what we call paper tigers,” Baba-Ahmed added.
Dismissing any sense of intimidation, the LP chieftain urged Nigerians not to succumb to fear, insisting that democratic accountability must not be silenced.
“The wind is blowing and they’re scaring people. Do not be afraid. Trust in God and believe in yourselves. They will add up to nothing.”
The former lawmaker was reportedly invited by the Department of State Services over comments considered inciting against the Nigerian state.
Sources within the service said the invitation followed concerns about the former vice-presidential candidate’s recent public remarks.
One of the officers disclosed, “A few days ago, Baba-Ahmed was on national television blaming the judiciary and the military for allowing the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
“He even went to the length of inciting the military, saying it was President Tinubu’s swearing-in that made it possible for them to look you in the face and call you ‘bloody fools.’
“His comments carry undertones capable of heightening national tension, particularly given the sensitivity of Nigeria’s current political climate. It has nothing to do with politics, but the corporate existence of our nation could be threatened if such rhetoric is allowed to fester.”
Another insider said the DSS invitation was preventive and aimed solely at clarifying intent, not persecution.
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