Calls For Interim Gov’t May Truncate Democracy, CSOs Warn

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations has frowned at calls by some Nigerians clamouring for an interim government as against the incoming democratically elected government under president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

It warned those criticising the outcome of 2023 general elections to desist from such act, because their action was capable of truncating Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

The coalition reminded Nigerians that the democracy being enjoyed now was not gotten on a platter of gold as some Nigerians laid down their lives for it, while other suffered one form of deformation or the other because of the struggle and as such it should be guarded jealously.

Addressing the press in Lagos, the convener of the coalition, Comrade Rasaq Olokoba, in company of Comrade Nelson Ekujumi of the Committee for Defence of People’s Mandate; Titi Akosa of Centre for 21st Century Issues, and others, said to the credit of those who died in the democratic struggle, hence they were appealing to the anti-democratic tendencies to stop.

“It is to the credit of these patriots and many more persons of like minds and interest, that they were able to galvanize the society for good governance and democracy in their lifetime and thus played critical roles in terminating military dictatorship in Nigeria. Their heroic stance and actions are well acknowledged and receipted by history,” it said.

It noted that characters who lacked proper understanding of democracy and its values and are not ready to learn because they have obstinately refused to imbibe the tenets of democracy which is about the will of the majority over the minority as expressed by all Nigerians who came out to vote at the polls.

He explained that following the fair, successful and credible conduct of the 2023 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whom the coalition commended for the marvelous work it has done despite all the landmines laid in its path, it has watched with bated breadth and shock, how some characters were plotting to truncate the hard earned democracy at all costs through treasonable and subversive calls for the installation of an interim government.

“These unpatriotic elements have resorted to fake news, hate speech, lies, falsehood, misinformation and campaign of blackmail and calumny against all known national institutions with a view to arm twisting and blackmailing them to toe their ignoble and undemocratic line.

“Wickedly of them, their sinister and unpatriotic actions have caused threats to the lives of Nigerians because their party and candidate lost an election.

“If we all recall, while INEC was busy with the collation of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections results, two bitter and sore losers presidential candidates and members of their political parties having seen the handwriting of defeat on the wall via their manually collated party agents results from the polling units, to the wards, local government levels and state collation centres, started calling for the cancellation of the presidential election midway citing irregularity of non uploading of the results to the IRev by INEC and sadly, this irresponsible, insensitive, reckless, provocative and treasonable call was echoed by a former President of Nigeria whose place is cemented in our political history as the progenitor of do or die politics, who supervised the most scandalous elections in our national life.”

The coalition noted that everyday, the sensibilities of Nigerians are assaulted and traumatized by the so called men of God denigrating the Lord’s temple for filthy political lucre which is very sad, unfortunate, reprehensible and despicable.

“We however want to use this opportunity to admonish these agents of destabilization, that as Nigerians who went to the polls peacefully and orderly to exercise our franchise on election day and even observe the elections, we will no longer fold our arms and watch them discredit and undermine our democracy and national security for their selfish end.”

Olokoba stated that as organizations which observed the 2023 general elections under it’s umbrella body, it affirm that the elections were conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the electoral Act 2022 and the outcome reflected the will of the people as expressed at the polls.

It noted that the treasonable comments and conducts being exhibited over an election that was creditably conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act, which they lost is becoming embarrassing and unbearable.

“The silence of the majority of Nigerians who voted for the President-elect and other candidates who won at the polls, must not be mistaken for cowardice, enough is enough!

“We commend the media for the professionalism and objectivity exhibited before, during and after the elections and appeal to them to continue to uphold the ethics of the profession just as we charge them to educate and sensitize innocent and peace loving Nigerians on the tenets of democracy which is being daily debased, abused and assaulted by these anti-democratic elements,” Olokoba said.