Osita Chidoka, the former aviation minister, has come under fire from the Department of State Security Services for what it views as an outburst on the country's security situation in recent times, accusing him of displaying ignorance in front of the public.
Early in the week, the former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps accused the leadership's inability to manage the nation's diversity for fostering cohesion and efficiency among the country's military and security organisations for the country's escalating instability.
The former minister demanded "innovative methods" to quell the violence that has resulted in deaths, property damage, and organised oil theft in the Niger Delta, which has prevented the nation from raising the funds necessary to address its problems.
However, in response to the former minister's allegations, the DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, characterised Chidoka's remarks as those of a politician, which do not call for a response from the security agency.
In the statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday on behalf of the DG DSS, Afunanya said: “Mr. Chidoka spoke as a politician and the DSS does not join issues with politicians. Intelligence activities are based on need-to- know, need-to- hold and need-to- access principles.
“For today, Mr. Chidoka is not on any of the security platforms to appreciate the workings of the intelligence community or the DSS in particular. He has no history of core intelligence practice, competence and experience.
“Chidoka exhibited lack of knowledge or complete ignorance in aspects of his analysis especially as it concerns the DSS.
“In any case, the Federal Road Safety Corps, where is once headed, has unarguably continued to enjoy a robust relationship with the DSS based on inter-agency collaboration,” the DSS said.