- Says protest plan threat to national security
- DSS raises the alarm over plot to disrupt peace
- Atiku: I’ll continue to challenge legality of polls
Citing internal and external conspiracies, President-elect Bola Tinubu yesterday alleged a plot by the opposition to frustrate his inauguration on May 29. But he warned the plotters to desist and give peace a chance.
His claims were corroborated by the Department of State Service (DSS) which in a statement yesterday raised the alarm on the plot by some persons to disrupt the nation’s peace.
Tinubu, who spoke through his Director of Public Affairs, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said in a statement in Abuja that those who have taken to the streets protesting his victory in last month’s election are fixated on having an Interim National Government (ING).
In a separate statement yesterday, the Director New Media of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, vowed that the party could no longer serve as a punching bag for the opposition.
“There can be no more cheating, no more subterfuge, no more games and no more dastardly tricks,” the one time aviation minister said.
Keyamo, who is also the minister of state for Labour and Employment, said calls by the opposition for the cancellation of the presidential election and or his inauguration “are not in tandem with our constitutional provisions or our electoral laws.”
According to him, the APC would ordinarily “have taken these as mere wishful thinking, however because of their implications for national security and public order, we have therefore considered it necessary, if not expedient, to call them to order.”
He added: “We are aware of the intentions of those engaged in these treasonable and subversive acts. We also know those involved in the many plots being contrived to undermine the transition in particular and democracy in general.
“They are fixated with an Interim Government. They have done it in this country before and it threw the country into avoidable crises for many years, and they want to do it again. They are bent on delegitimising the new government.
“Some have made treasonable insinuations and openly called for military take-over. It is for these reasons that they are desperate to incite the people against the incoming government.”
Keyamo said it was perplexing to “see that those contesting the results want to be in the courts and on the streets at the same time.”
He warned that if the intention of the agitators was to truncate the inauguration of the President-elect and Vice-President elect, “they should immediately bury the thought.”
Continuing, Keyamo said: “It is gratifying to note that the President has set in motion steps for the actualisation of the swearing-in ceremonies.
“In this regard, the Presidential Transition Council has remained focused and committed to its Terms of Reference in respect of organising a hitch-free handover.”
Noting the efforts made by Tinubu to reach out to those embittered by his emergence as President-elect, Keyamo said: “On many occasions after the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the election, his public speeches and utterances have centered on reconciliation, forgiveness and greater vision for Nigeria.
“He has pledged fairness as the basis for his present and future engagements. He has unequivocally stated that he would not accord favour to those that supported him, neither would he mistreat those who did not vote for him. This is statesmanly and patrotic.
“We all watched the President-elect as Governor of Lagos for eight years. He never undermined any person or tribe. He championed people-oriented policies.
“It is common knowledge that he is a welfarist and a pacifist. This is even more so that millions of citizens have spoken through the ballot box in his favour.”
He conceded to the agitators their right to contest the outcome of the election but said they should do so within the ambits of the law.
His words: “By being declared winners, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima are legally entitled to be inaugurated into office AS PROVIDED for by law and AS WE HAVE PRACTISED SINCE 1999, whilst those that feel otherwise have the right to seek legal redress in court.
“Why should their situation be different from what we have practised since 1999?
“Those who are dissatisfied with the declaration MUST conduct themselves within the ambits of the law.
“Nigeria is not a lawless country and should not be portrayed as such no matter the frustrations as presently being exhibited by some bad losers.
“Those who are stoking the embers of hate, division and falsehoods as well as peddling misleading narratives through some compromised media outlets should detract from such. It amounts to campaigning after elections.
“Hate speeches, fake news and propaganda at a time like this are needless because Nigerians have already made their choice.
“Those who are bent on scuttling the process will ignite the fire of destruction and run away. But they should not even start.
“We simply wish that peace reigns in the country. It does not make sense that some persons who should know better are encouraging violence and are so determined to achieve that.
“We know these persons and their sponsors from within and outside Nigeria and we shall be working closely with the security agencies to apprehend them and bring them to book.
“Our concern is that every day Nigerians who are unaware of the evil intentions of these persons should not be used as cannon fodders. Enough is enough.
“Their continuous determination to dare us should cease forthwith. We are not lacking in capabilities and capacities.
“Our silence should not be taken for cowardice. We should come together for the peace of our beloved country. It is better.”
FFK: We can’t remain opposition’s punching bag for ever
In his own statement, Fani-Kayode accused supporters of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi of beating the drums of war.
He asked them to “get a grip before it is too late.”
“They are beating the drums of war and are indulging in a level of irresponsible and downright dangerous behaviour that has NEVER been witnessed before in the annals of the history of our politics,” he said.
“The signals are not good and, unless they exercise restraint, reflect sobriety and change course quickly, it is clear that our nation will soon find itself in a cataclysmic and monumental struggle between the forces of light and darkness, the likes of which have never been seen before.
“Peace is priceless and unity is a fundamental pre-requisite to progress and prosperity: you must learn to cherish them both.
“That you have lost today does not mean you will lose forever. I counsel you to calm down, purge yourself of hate, sheath your sword of war, drop your dastardly game plan and not so hidden agenda to establish an Interim Government, desist from displaying madness, bend the knee and bow to your President-elect, refrain from weaponising falsehood, act within the law and, if you must, make your protestations quietly in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, and there will be no problems.
“Go to court, if you must, and state your case with respect, dignity and decorum, and I assure you that no matter the outcome, there will be NO issues.
“That is what democracy and the rule of law is all about. You win some and you lose some.
“That is the reasonable, rational and responsible attitude and disposition that you should cultivate, display, engender and reflect.
“That is the path to peace.
“However if you continue to say you do not believe in the system or institutions, that the President-elect must not be sworn in under any circumstances and that you have no faith in the courts or the rule of law and you encourage people to take the law into their own hands, then you are inviting chaos, anarchy, violence, tyranny, fascism, treason, a breach of the constitution and the law of the jungle, and we will NOT sit by idly and allow that.
“If you continue to incite, intimidate, threaten, provoke, destabilise, undermine and overheat the polity and breach the rules of engagement, all hell will break loose.
“We cannot be a punching bag for the opposition forever, and soon, we will react.
“Those that kindle fire shall be consumed by it. Those that invoke the spirit of war shall be destroyed by it.
“Those that wish to truncate our democracy shall be crushed by it. And those that seek peace, unity, justice, progress and fair play shall find it.
“The people have spoken. God has approved it.
“There are some things that are worth fighting and, if necessary, dying for, and democracy, fair play, truth, the rule of law, righteousness and justice are amongst them.
“Let that sink and let peace reign.”
DSS raises alarm over plot to disrupt peace
The Department of State Service (DSS) has again alerted the public of plans by some persons to violently disrupt the nation’s peace.
Spokesman of the agency, Dr Peter Afunanya, disclosed this in a statement yesterday evening.
He warned those who intend to cause a breakdown of law and order to desist.
The statement reads: “The Service hereby warns those desperate to cause a breakdown of law and order to desist from that.
“It would be recalled that the Service had earlier advised political players to abide by the rules of engagement as well as approach the courts for redress, if and where there are suspicions of infractions on extant electoral laws.
“It is evident that some aggrieved politicians are already taking advantage of this legal process. This, without doubt, is the beauty of democracy.
“It is strongly believed that this approach enhances peace and security. All and sundry should cherish it.
“Be that as it may, the DSS will not tolerate a situation where persons and/or groups take the law into their hands and champion anarchy.
“Those peddling fake news, hate speech and all forms of false narratives as basis to ignite violence or pit the people against the present or incoming administrations at the Federal, State and Parliamentary levels, should stop forthwith.
“Those inciting violence have nothing to gain as doing so will not only consume them but also the innocent.
“It is otherwise disturbing to see respected personalities use their platforms to mislead or incite citizens. This, to say the least, does not augur well for peaceful coexistence and general order.
“Therefore, the Service will continue to take necessary measures to checkmate these elements who do not wish the country well.
“This is to ensure that conducive environment is provided for citizens and residents to pursue their legitimate businesses.
“A stitch in time, they say, saves nine. Let all be guided.”
Ambition of a few should not threaten Nigeria’s peace, says Mayaki
A chieftain of the APC in Edo State, Prince John Mayaki, said yesterday that the volume of inciting statements flowing from the camp of the opposition was an indication that “something sinister is in the offing.”
“They are doing everything possible to make sure that there’s no peaceful handover and then possibly truncate democracy in the country,” he said.
He added: “Having lost the presidential election, the Labour Party has now rejoined its parent party, the PDP, and together they are plotting an unconstitutional overthrow of the ballots.
“They huffed and puffed for days, boasting that they have the evidence to prove their spurious allegations of rigging and other electoral malpractices in court. But after due consultation with serious legal experts, and with the mockery that trailed their laughable petitions, they have since realised the futility of the suit, and are thus seeking other illegal means to block the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The opposition is not only inciting Nigerians to continue to protest and calling for the annulment of the election, they have been spreading hate and inciting Nigerians to make sure that the President-elect is not sworn-in.
“They haven’t stopped there; they have also made the judiciary the target of their attack in a dangerous attempt to intimidate the institution and sow the seeds of non-existent bias that is in the mind of its headless mob.”
Keyamo’s claims frivolous -Atiku
Reacting in a statement to Keyamo’s allegation that the opposition was planning to truncate democracy, the Special Assistant to Atiku Abubakar on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described it as frivolous.
He said Keyamo should be sanctioned for abandoning his primary job as a minister to act as the spokesman for Tinubu’s campaign organisation even after the polls had ended.
Shaibu said: “Festus Keyamo’s primary duty is to serve as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But this is a man that has put his personal interest ahead of the country. He took up a job as Spokesman for Tinubu’s campaign while lecturers were on strike for eight months.
“Rather than negotiate with lecturers and get innocent students back to class, he asked the parents of students to go negotiate with ASUU instead. After the strike, he remained the Spokesman for Tinubu’s campaign and abandoned his duties completely.
“Today, the Nigeria Labour Congress is threatening to embark on a nationwide strike over the naira scarcity. By virtue of his job as labour minister, his primary duty is to avert industrial action. But rather than try to intervene in a strike that could bring the country to its knees, this minister is busy with politics and issuing frivolous statements over an imaginary plot.”
In a separate statement he personally signed yesterday, Atiku denied a press release earlier attributed to him purportedly validating the result of the February 25 presidential election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku said: “The so-called press release did not emanate from me or my office, and it should be treated with repudiation, untrue, and deliberately contrived by those who illegally appropriated the mandate of the Nigerian people.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, I wish to state categorically that my lawyers still have my unflinching mandate to challenge the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
“I join other lovers of democracy in Nigeria and friends of our great country in the outright rejection of the predetermined outcome of the February 25 election.
“I shall continue to challenge the legality of that election, alongside my party, the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement said.
