Action Congress of Nigeria has accused the
President Goodluck Jonathan administration of
launching an assault on the civil rights of Nigerians. The party stated this while reacting to a report that the Federal Government had awarded a $40m Internet surveillance contract.

According to an online newspaper, Premium Times,
the contract will allow the government to monitor
the Internet communication of privacy of citizens,
especially journalists and those considered to be
opponents of the administration. An Israeli firm reportedly won the contract.

The ACN, in a statement in Lagos on Sunday by its
National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
said since the contract was reported, the
government had yet to deny it.

It said because the government had yet to deny the
report several days after its publication, it was
safe to submit that it was true. The party said the contract would mark the beginning of what would be the curtailment of the right to freedom of speech and expression and the freedom of the press.

The ACN stated, "For a government that is increasingly paranoid, having failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the citizenry,who are justifiably becoming restive by the day, the ability to spy on the Internet communications of citizens as well as to intercept and read private emails, not to talk of being able to suppress unwanted connections, is a potent weapon against the civil rights of Nigerians as well as the constitutionally-guaranteed rights like freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of association.

"It is common knowledge that the Jonathan
administration has been getting a bad rap from
Nigerians in the traditional media as well as the
social media – a veritable platform for the citizens
to vent their frustrations at a do-nothing
government.

"It is also common knowledge that journalists have
borne the brunt of the administration's increasing
propensity to stifle freedom of expression and
press freedom, while members of the opposition are
being portrayed more and more as enemies of the
administration, rather than being seen as
indispensable allies in the nation's quest to evolve
a strong and enduring democracy.
"These may have been the motivation for the
administration to acquire the Internet Surveillance capability.

However, no government in the history
of our country, whether elected or otherwise, has
taken this kind of brazen measure for whatever
reason, hence it must raise serious concerns among
the citizenry, their political representatives as
well as civil liberties organisations."
The party said the government might want to
hoodwink Nigerians by saying the technology was to
enable it to keep a tab on insurgents.

It said such justification was not acceptable it
violated the country's constitution. ACN added, "This is why we are calling on the National Assembly, civil liberties organisations, professional groups and ordinary citizens to speak
out now before it is too late. No government should have the right to play a 'Big Brother' role in the lives of the citizens, because this will ultimately herald the return to autocratic rule and sound the death knell of our democracy."

However, the Special Adviser to the President on
Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, on Sunday, said
the ACN did not have any moral ground to be
attacking the Federal Government as it was doing.

The presidential aide, who said he would not
comment on the Internet contract based on
speculation, noted that the ACN and its national
leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, lacked the moral
platform on which they could be criticising Federal
Government.

Gulak said, "I am not aware of that (the surveillance contract). I cannot make comment on it based on speculation. I like making comments on
issues from informed point of view.

Seems like I wouldn't be posting on nairaland anymore. Once this programme kicks off. Nigeria is now being run in a demo-military way.

ACN are hypocrites. If Boko Haram throw their bombs, this same Liar Muhammed will be running his mouth everywhere. Is GEJ a spirit? How does he expect him to tackle the insurgent if not through intelligence? Now that he takes steps to check and nip this thing in the bud, the guy is still here complaining.

This administration will never cease to surprise me, so with all the problems facing the masses, they are ready to waste a whooping N6b on spying. Indeed someone is clueless.