Leaders of various ethnic groups in Nigeria under the umbrella body, ‘The Natives’, have taken over the streets of Abuja in what has been described as a vigil against purveyors of parallel government who may be planning to disrupt the inauguration of president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday.
The tribal leaders on Friday staged a peaceful work at the Three Arms Zone, beginning from Eagle Square to the Court of Appeal, saying it they will occupy Abuja in their ongoing vigil till Tinubu is sworn in on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Speaking during the peaceful walk, the Supreme Leader of The Natives, Hon Smart Edwards, urged those who lost in the last presidential election to begin to remap their political future instead of working with fifth columnists to disrupt Tinubu’s inauguration.
Edwards said, “The country belongs to all of us. The resources Asiwaju will superintend belong to all of us. We are not against anybody, but we are against such madness and the attempt to bring out a factional president in the country.
“Having said that, I want to inform us that we are going to start a vigil. We are going to hold it on the streets of Abuja until Asiwaju is sworn in. We are going to stay until the day that baton is given to him and until he is announced the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is democracy and this is a country we must protect.
“No one group or persons nor party should act as sovereigns, they are not and will never be. Hence we call on their sponsors to refrain from this unstable, insane and undemocratic act that will only expose them as political neophytes.
“We boldly declare that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a day with history and shall be sworn in on Monday, May 29 unfailingly, until the Supreme Court of the land rules otherwise or affirms the Victory.
“To this end, we the Natives of this country will not allow saboteurs and the proponents of parallel government to cause chaos and instability in Nigeria.
“We will, however, embark on vigil on the streets of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, beginning from today Friday till Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sworn in on Monday, May 29. 2023.
Edwards noted that they were at the Court of Appeal to state categorically that they, Natives of Nigeria, won’t allow any form of parallel government.
Noting that the idea of parallel government should be dead by now, The Natives warn proponents of the idea to perish it because Nigeria is not a Banana Republic where law and order does not exist.
Edwards noted: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure will never be extended beyond Monday, May 29. He is a democrat and will end as a hero.
“Our attention has been drawn to some incredulous persons who have been brainwashed into imagination of victory at 2023 polls, whose constant cantankerous and mischievous attempts to desecrate our electoral institutions and justify their judicial brigandage is becoming intolerable.
“We are alarmed that the constant constitutional murder perpetrated by these agents of destabilization doubtfully in the name of their principal is appearing to be subjugating, subversive and threatening coronation of unlawful acts, of which if left unchecked can snowball into a disaster, acts that makes their matters in courts unfounded.
“Their discontent like many can be acknowledged but it must not defeat sanity and the sanctity of our courts. Our Courts are sacred institutions and their decisions are based on facts not fictions.
“To this end, we rise up again to be counted, in defense of our country, its courts and citizens, as we take a unity walk to the Appeal Court today, to confront the increasingly dangerous and perfidious acts of sabotage against matters that should only be left for Judges up to the Supreme Court to decide”.
