By Danlami Nmodu
Civil Soceity Activist on the aegis of Nigerians United for Democracy ,NUD have kicked against any interim government or coup d’etat in Nigeria . “We wish to warn those who are planning to install an interim government or a coup de tat to discard the idea. We have had enough of dictatorial regimes in Nigeria” NUD said in Abuja on Thursday.
The group in a statement endorsed by Ezenwa Nwagu,Jibrin Ibrahim,Audu Liberty Oseni, Jaye Gaskiya and Auwal Musa Rafsanjani noted that “as the nation was preparing for the 2015 General Election slated for February 14 and 28, 2015, the (Goodluck) Jonathan Administration commenced a campaign for postponement. Following the refusal of the Council of State to support the postponement, the National Security Adviser to the President and the security chiefs wrote to the INEC to the effect that they could not provide security for the election, as the armed forces would be involved in a military operation in the north east region. As the operation would last for six weeks the INEC was compelled to shift the election to March 28 and April 11, 2015.
“As far as we are concerned, the postponement of the elections at the instance of service chiefs cannot be justified in law. It was a plot to undermine the democratic process and prevent Nigerians from exercising their right of franchise. Having fought the war on terror for six years, there is no indication that the Boko Haram sect would be wiped out in six weeks. Since the operation is limited to 14 local governments there was no basis for not holding election in the remaining 760 local government areas in the federation and the 6 area councils in the federal capital territory.
The activists also recalled that “A former President, Chief Obasanjo has cried out against the plan of the federal government to cancel the election and install an interim national government. In its reaction to the grave allegation, the Presidency accused Chief Obasanjo of trying to head the Interim National Government. However, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke SAN has stated that there is no provision for interim government in the Constitution.
Even more, they said “We are however worried that the new election dates are not sacrosanct. According to the INEC chairman, Professor Jega, only the service chiefs could guarantee that the rescheduled elections would hold. That was the submission of the INEC boss when he appeared at the Senate last week. For reasons best known to them, the security chiefs have not assured the nation that security would be provided on the new election dates. We are compelled to call on the National Assembly to extract a firm undertaking from the NSA and the security chiefs that the General Elections would not be further postponed or disrupted.
“The undertaking ought to be made publicly by the security chiefs in view of the categorical pronouncement of the Court of Appeal that the armed forces have no role to play in the electoral process. Since all authorities and persons are bound to obey the verdicts of our courts, the President and the security chiefs should demonstrate their commitment to follow the rule of law by withdrawing soldiers from election duties. At the same time, the revelations in the audio cassette recorded by an army Captain on the role of the military and other government officers and their cohorts in the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti state should be investigated without any delay. More so, that some of the dramatis personae have admitted their role in the criminal enterprise.
“We need to prevent a slide into anarchy; we need to take our destiny in our hands; we need to ensure that darkness does not once again descend on our country. We are insisting that nothing must change the new dates of March 28 and April 11. Elections must be allowed to hold on these dates. Nigeria is on the march again, this time; no one will be able to halt the decisive will of the people for democracy and sustainable livelihood.
“We are also worried by the incumbent move to frustrate INEC in conducting credible election by pushing for the use of Temporary Voter Card which will not allow for the use of Card Readers already procured for checkmating election rigging. The affidavits filed by the Attorney General, Mohammed Bello Adoke that is already in public media further confirms attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan’s government to undermine the use of permanent voter cards (PVCs) in the country’s forthcoming elections, which the main purpose is to perfect plans to rig the March poll.
Finally, the group said “ in rejecting the manipulation of the political transition, the Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) will continue with its rallies at Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Osogbo, Port Harcourt and Imo to condemn the conspiracy of the ruling clique against Nigerians. The rallies is for Nigerians to stand hand-in-hand to speak with one voice against electoral terrorism, against any further poll shift, against any attempt to introduce an Interim Government, against any military incursion into politics, against corruption, against the devaluation of the national currency and conspiracy to use the court to frustrate INEC from conducting credible election. We call on Nigerians to come out in large numbers to assert themselves and take control of their destiny.”
