A’Ibom: Ita Enang defends DSS, says “Government House has no immunity”

By Nse Peter

There is no law in Nigeria that says Government House, Uyo has immunity against being searched by security agencies in the country, Ita Enang has said.

Mr. Enang, the immediate past senator who represented Uyo Senatorial District, Akwa Ibom State, said during an interview, Saturday, on a Planet 101.1 FM programme “Community Views” that the Department of State Security has the right to search anywhere they suspected was harbouring illegal arms and ammunitions.

Enang said the DSS is empowered to carry out lawfully search in any location within the country as stated in the constitution.  

 “Akwa Ibom people must stand up and say the truth that Government House is not immune to investigation by security agencies,” said Enang who was recently appointed senior special assistant on national assembly matters by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The elders of Akwa Ibom should endeavour to tell the people the truth that the government house has no immunity, that the governor (Udom Emmanuel) is yet to officially occupy the government house,” he repeatedly said during the interview.

Enang said the DSS was only doing their routine job and that there was nothing like ‘invasion’ as reported in the media. He also said that he has spoken with most of the elders whose names appeared on newspaper advertorials condemning the DSS search on Akwa Ibom Government House, and that more than 70 percent of them said they didn’t authorise their names to be used for those publications.

Apparently referring to Governor Udom Emmanuel’s predecessor, Godswill Akpabio who is reportedly still occupying the Akwa Ibom Government House, Uyo, Enang said “After office, you should quit the governor's office and all its appurtenances.”

Enang also spoke on how his relationship will be with Gov. Emmanuel, now that he (Enang) is working with President Buhari. “Our party is in Court with regards to the Governorship Election, but that will not interfere with my closely working with Udom Emmanuel on matters that concern Akwa Ibom people within the context of the constitution since he has been sworn in as governor, because if I fail to do so, Akwa Ibom people will suffer.”