By Adedayo Ogunleye, Abuja

The Department of State Security, DSS, has cautioned politicians to desist from making statements capable of undermining the federal government or encouraging violence that could result in the loss of innocent lives and property.

The agency was apparently reacting to a statement credited to the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, saying that corruption was the problem with the military and the fight against insurgents in the North east.

Amaechi also affirmed the right of soldiers to protest if they were not properly equipped.

The deputy director, public relations of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, who gave the warning on Monday in Abuja, said that political office holders “must not hide under the privileges of their offices to perpetrate and encourage the commission of acts inimical to the general interest of this nation, as this will henceforth not be tolerated.”

In then statement made available to newsmen by the spokesperson of the DSS yesterday read:

“The attention of the Department of State Service has been drawn to inciting and unguarded statements and utterances by some politicians ahead of the 2015 general elections.

“Of particular interest is the statement of a serving governor, calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest against constituted authority, with the intent to undermine the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“This statement therefore serves as the last warning to all those seeking to truncate the nation’s democracy by their careless and obviously mischievous utterances and actions to desist and retrace their steps immediately.”

Amaechi, who is the Director-General, campaign organisation of the All Progressive Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, had in a widely televised interview expressed support for the 54 soldiers recently condemned to death for mutiny.

“The soldiers have the right to protest the federal government’s failure to fully equip them,” Amaechi stated.

Ogar, however, said the governor’s statement was meant to achieve a selfish desire against the collective well-being of the nation.

“Such actions are irresponsible, selfish and against our collective wellbeing as a nation, the DSS spokeswoman stated.

She noted that “similar unguarded provocative statements by politicians in the past had encouraged violence that resulted in loss of innocent lives and property.”

Ogar reiterated the security agency’s commitment to the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, promising that it will not rest on its oars in its bid to secure the nation.