Interim Government: Obi, Others Undermining Nigeria’s Democracy – NOSACOF

Interim Government: Obi, Others Undermining Nigeria’s Democracy – NOSACOF

By Kabir Akintayo

The Non-State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF) has described some of the actions of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, and his supporters, as an invitation to anarchy.

The group said, both Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed, had made statements capable of inciting chaos in the state, adding that such behaviour is that of a “selfish and self-centred politicians.”

This was contained in a press release signed by the lead convener of NOSACOF, Abdulrazaq Alkali.

The group further accused Obi’s followers of promoting the interim government option to truncate the country’s democracy by protesting and calling on the military to take over the government.

“Some supporters of Mr Peter Obi have decided to tow a whole new level of unpatriotic by flying the kite of an Interim Government and selling it to their blind followers. With this they intend to create chaos against the swearing-in of the President-elect.

“It is on record that some supporters of Mr Peter Obi went to the extent of protesting at the defence headquarters, calling on the Nigerian Military to take over and stop the swearing-in of the President-elect.

“It has also been disclosed by the Department of State Security (DSS) about the plans of some disgruntled politicians to railroad the country into an interim government arrangement and have been promoting its possibility and advantages.

“These sorts of unpatriotic actions are beyond common politics, and it is very important that Nigerians rise up and condemn such actors and their plans by upholding our democratic values and rule of law,” the statement read in part

It continued: “It is quite clear to everyone that the Labour Party candidate Mr Peter Obi, his VP candidate Dr Yusuf Datti Ahmad, their followers (widely known as obidients) as well as other prominent supporters of theirs particularly the likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor of Anambra State Chukwuemeka Ezeife have all followed this dangerous and unpatriotic path of unfair criticism and undermining our democracy.

“One of the most regrettable actions are the remarks made by the VP candidate Dr Yusuf Datti Ahmad on a National TV, asking the President and Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN) to truncate the victory of a valid electoral winner (in Mr Bola Ahmad Tinubu). Mr Datti also deliberately made unscrupulous interpretation of the Nigerian constitution all in an effort to create chaos and rile up their support base. He further subtly threatened the Presidential and CJN powers by stating that “if they swear in the President-elect, then they are engaging in an unconstitutional exercise” and that if Bola Ahmad Tinubu is sworn in as President, then the lives of Nigerians will be in danger.

“These deliberate remarks and comments from Yusuf Datti are extremely dangerously and treasonable, that every well-meaning Nigerian need to condemn with the strongest voice.”

The group however urged aggrieved politicians to seek redress in the court of law, rather than preaching and encouraging division among the populace, using religious and ethnic sentiment as a yardstick.

“It worth pointing out that the PDP and NNPP presidential candidates have shown more decorum and respect to our constitution, as they have refrained from this unpatriotic path but instead PDP has invested their efforts in challenging the election in a court of law as constitutionally stipulated.

“It is also worth applauding the stand taken by the Defence Headquarters on this issue, as in the just recently released statement where it made it clear that the call for an Interim Government is illegal and unconstitutional and that the Military will stand against such action by upholding our democratic values and rule of law.

“We would also like to call on Mr Perter Obi, his VP candidate as well as their advisors and supporters to have a rethink about their actions and utterances, respect our democracy and follow our constitution in lodging their grievances against the electoral process,” the statement concluded.