The Department of State Security (DSS) on Wednesday said it invited the nominees for the Awujale stool for profiling as part of the requirements for the comprehensive vetting of each candidate.
An agency operative, speaking to newsmen at the DSS office in Igbeba, Ijebu-Ode, explained that the invitations were sent to the nominees through the palace secretary.
He said the profiling was put on hold after the State Government, through the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, issued a circular suspending the entire nomination process until further notice.
“It is important to clarify that the exercise was not placed on hold by the DSS or any security agency. Rather, the State Government, through an official circular already in the public domain, directed that the exercise be suspended.
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“You should also be aware that prior to the postponement of the screening of nominees by the Kingmakers, the nominees were expected to visit the DSS office for profiling.
“This profiling is a prerequisite for comprehensive vetting and involves filling out forms that provide information necessary to vet all communities involved.
“The nominees were scheduled to come to the DSS office after the palace screening. The exercise was planned to run over several days until all nominees were covered. Invitations were duly sent to them through the Palace Secretary, requesting that they report to the DSS office for the profiling exercise.
“However, while the nominees were preparing to come, another circular was issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, suspending all activities related to the Awujale succession. The circular, which is also in the public domain, cited several grounds necessitating government intervention.
“Consequently, higher authorities within the DSS directed that the profiling exercise be suspended as well. This explains why some of the nominees were seen around without the exercise proceeding.
“It is important to stress that the DSS should not be associated with any misinformation. Any report or public communication should clearly reflect that the suspension was a government decision, not an action initiated by the DSS.
“In summary, the stoppage of the exercise was a government decision, not one taken by the DSS,” he said.