The all-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Monday warned against any move that could jeopardize the transfer of power to elected officials on May 29, 2023.
Afenifere, in a statement by National Publicity Minister Jare Ajayi, said the warning was prompted by reports of actions taken that could be detrimental to those taking the oath of office. victory in the election that is coming to an end on May 29.
According to him, these measures include efforts to damage the results of the aforementioned elections, especially the presidential election on February 25, arousing calls for the establishment of a political party. provisional government and demonstrations or rallies were carried out in particular in Abuja and the United States of America against the results of said election.
A spokesperson for Afenifere said that the organization is very concerned about unfavorable developments because of the way it is gaining a foothold in the country and even outside the country. Recall that the Directorate General of State Services (DSS) confirmed last week that maneuvers are indeed underway to impede the planned inauguration. An Afenifere spokesperson reminded members and fans of not taking office to know that the beast being courted will not only affect the presidency as the winner of the election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, leader.
He said:
“The disruption will affect all other tiers of government as well, governors at the state level, the legislatures at the national and state levels and perhaps the local government areas.
“There is therefore the need to exercise a lot of caution. The laws of the land created avenues to seek redress when we are aggrieved. We enjoin those who may not be satisfied with the outcome of the concluded elections to seek redress through the established channels and not through any other means. It is also important to let members of the public realise that anything short of following due process, particularly in the swearing-in of winners of the just concluded elections, constitutes grave dangers for the country. This must not be accepted or encouraged at all because of its dire consequences.”
He also urged the Judiciary not to entertain cases that “may be brought to derail the hard-earned civil rule and thus scuttle our democracy.
“the successful conclusion of a general election this year has provided the country another opportunity to re-invent itself. We believe that the government that
will be formed at the expiration of President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration on May 29 this year will open new (positive) vistas for the country.
The new government, a product of the process created by the Nigerian Constitution i.e. electoral process, elicits hope of a new lease because of the acrimonious air and near despondence in the land.
“As for those who are pushing for an Interim Government, this should not be allowed to happen first because it is alien to our law books and also because we have had an experience of it in the past.
Not only was the experience unpleasant, it was retrogressive. It is a path we should not tread again for any reason. Especially since there is no basis for it whatsoever.
In view of the setbacks the contraption of Interim Government always brings, it is important to let its advocates know that it is an ill-wind that blows no-one any good. Those of them who, simply because they were uncomfortable with the result of February 25, Presidential election, want the baby to be thrown away with the bath-water.“Ordinarily, it could be said that the allegation of steps capable of jeopardizing the handing over to the President elect on May 29th is unreal. Doing so however would be playing the ostrich going by the confirmation by the DSS, opinions expressed against it by such groups and individual like Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, APC Governors’ Forum etc.
“Since we know that it is fraught with danger, it is very necessary we make it known that it would be unacceptable”.
He, however, charged the DSS and the Police to apprehend those they suspected as being behind the nefarious plot rather than just confirming the knowledge of it.
“It is by so doing and by taking the culprits to court that members of the public would believe that the security agency is not just crying wolf or selling a dummy”, Ajayi said.
