Major stakeholders and Southsouth leaders have lambasted persons mooting the idea of an interim government and called on security agencies especially the Department of State Security (DSS) to name, arrest and prosecute them.
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, kinsmen of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State under the auspices of the Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC), the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) and many human rights groups among others said they would not be part of any devilish plot to truncate the country’s democracy.
PANDEF’s Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said on Sunday that the group “will not be a part of anything that will truncate our democracy or throw our country into crisis”.
He said any group or individual plotting an interim government did not mean well for the country as such sinister move dishonoured the memory of patriots, who paid the supreme price in the struggle for a return to civil rule.
Robinson warned that despite divisions in the country as shown during the just-concluded elections, many people were ready to resist any attempt to truncate democracy.
He said, “PANDEF will not be part of anything that will truncate our democracy or throw our country into crisis.The fact remains that anyone or group of persons considering Interim National Government is not a lover of Nigeria.
“The person does not mean well for Nigeria considering the sacrifices that were made for a return to civil rule with many paying the supreme price. It is completely unacceptable and PANDEF will never support that kind of notion.”
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The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, described those calling for the setting up of an interim government as saboteurs.
Spokesman for IYC, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, described the call as anti-democratic and alien to the Constitution of Nigeria.
He said that an election was conducted in the country and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged the winner, noting that whether or not the election met up to international standards, It was left for the court to decide on that.
Ekerefe said: “The various contestants have already instituted their cases before the court. Let us wait for the outcome of their litigations. We should not encourage anybody or group of persons that are even talking about setting up an interim government.
“How is that possible? President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would hand over power to democratically elected government.
“And whether we like it or not, the President-elect in this circumstance is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Except otherwise, the only institution that has constitutional responsibility to pass judgment either for or against Tinubu is the Supreme Court.
Since that has not been done, nobody should be talking about interim government. It is alien to our Constitution, it is anti-democratic. Those who are calling for interim government do no mean well for this country.”
The Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILoT) condemned in its entirety the mooting of an interim government describing it as an “aberration”.
ILOT’s Scribe, Sir. Amorighoye Mene, described the suggestion as unconstitutional and undemocratic, saying that as law-abiding citizens, Itsekiri people would not support it.
Asserting that nobody should encourage an interim government, Mene advised those unsatisfied with the outcome of the general elections to approach the law courts to determine their claims.
He said: “We condemn in totality the suggestion that there should be an interim government and that an interim government has no place in our law.
“That suggestion, wherever it’s coming from, it’s an aberration. It is unconstitutional and no democrat will be seen to be urging the establishment of an interim government.
“But democracy is a journey, and so far so good, this is the longest democratic regime we have had since independence and the journey is continuing. So nothing should make anybody encourage the setting up of an interim government that is not founded in democracy and the rule of law. Our democracy is founded on the rule of law.
“If anybody is not happy with the outcome of the election, the natural thing to do is to approach the court to determine whether the allegations are founded or not.
“And like it’s often said, the law court is the last hope of the common man, so they should approach the court for the determination of the matter on its merit. But to suggest that an interim government should be set up. How will it be set up? Is it Buhari that will set it up? We cannot fathom where they are coming from at all,” he said.
Mene lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the poll, positing that its “failure to upload the results on the IREV immediately is not enough to condemn the entire results because the law, the electoral act, has provided for the way elections are to be conducted and INEC followed it to the latter”.
The Chairman, Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC), Livingstone Wechie, said the Constitution has provided for ways to seek redress after elections and an interim government is not part of it.
He said: “The Ikwerre People’s Congress IPC Worldwide recognises that whereas the 2023 General elections have come and gone with its attendant contentions, the Constitution that is used to govern the Nigerian state has succinctly provides for channels of redress through the Courts as a reprieve for those who feel dissatisfied with the outcomes.
“It is the view of the IPC Worldwide that the DSS names the sponsors and executioners this ill-fated plot as alleged because this will be in the collective best interest of national security and public safety.
“The IPC charges the DSS to watch cautiously to avoid raising avoidable national tension through its statement but ensure to do its constitutional duty by bringing perpetrators to justice without further delay if they have credible evidence.
“IPC Worldwide believes that Nigeria is maturing in her national strives in the face of undisputed contradictions and controversies confronting the Constitution and democracy. The last election has thrown open too many debates and views but non should not suggest self-help as an alternative.
“To this end, the Nigerian security infrastructure and institutions should rise above all forms of whistle blowing and “alarmism” as seen in the circumstance. They chiefly engage to contain such vainglorious voyage to anarchy because the challenges bedevilling the country can only be addressed through democratic justice and not jungle justice.
“Nigerians and particularly the youths should resist the temptation of being procured or incited to stir any form of violence or instability.We insist that the safety and security of our people must not be sacrificed on the alter of any political ambition”.
A former member representing Ughelli North 2 Constituency, Abel Oshevire, described the call for Interim National Government as “satanic and the height of criminality.”
While referring to Association for Better Nigeria (ABN)- the movement that led to the scuttling of the 1993 presidential poll, Oshevire warned that “no group should take us back to those dark days”.
He warned that Nigeria had passed the era where persons, who lost elections would seek to short circuit the whole system.
He said, ” We have a President Elect, he should be sworn in and allowed to carry out the mandate Nigerians freely gave to him. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains our president-elect and by God’s grace he will be sworn in by May 29 to perform the civic duty , that onerous responsibility Nigerians have entrusted to him”.
Human rights and pro-democracy groups in Akwa Ibom insisted that the DSS must arrest those plotting to foist an interim government on Nigeria.
Describing those behind the idea as “coup plotters”, the groups urged Nigerians to resist any attempt by enemies of the country to truncate democracy.
Director, Center for Human Rights & Accountability Network (CHRAN), Otuekong Franklyn Isong condemned the plotters and called on the DSS to go beyond issuing press statements to actually arresting them.
He said: “Interim government is unconstitutional, it is anti-democracy and anti-people. Those contemplating and planning it should be arrested and treated as coup plotters.
“The DSS should come public with names of those behind it and action taken appropriately. We can’t afford to destroy our democracy because of selfish political interests”.
Also, the Executive Director, Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights, and Development Advancement, Mr. Clifford Thomas condemned the idea of an interim government.
Thomas, a legal practitioner, accused losers of 2023 presidential election of trying to scuttle the transition process to a newly elected administration.
He said: “Those who lost the election and those not comfortable with the outcome of the presidential election are behind the plot to impose an interim government on the country.
“I am sure the Judiciary is best way to seek redress if you think the elections were not properly conducted or if there were irregularities.
“Therefore I urge the planners of the unpopular interim government to perish the idea and seek redress in court. Our judiciary is not as bad as some people think”.
