The Southern and Middle belt leaders yesterday reacted to the February 25 presidential election and the cashless policy, warning President Muhammadu Buhari that there is an uneasy calm over the issues.
The leaders who noted that the recent presidential election fell short of expectation, noted that it seemed like the President Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) do not appreciate the mood of the country.
The leaders who also blasted the president for flaunting the Electoral Act by publicly showing whom he voted for, said “there has been an uneasy calm in the land and that the polity is laden with uncertainty orchestrated by the conduct and outcome of the Presidential election.”
The leaders who also decried the sufferings of Nigerians on the back of the cashless policy, tasked the president to “end all prevarications on the naira redesign policy as well as the associated cashless policy, and expressly direct the Central Bank of Nigeria to fully comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court.”
The leaders stated this in a open letter to President Buhari jointly signed by their leader, Chief Dr. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark; leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President, Middle Belt Forum Dr. Pogu Bitrus; former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Okey Emuchay.
The letter added, “Mr. President should note that there has been an uneasy calm in the land and that the polity is laden with uncertainty orchestrated by the conduct and outcome of the Presidential election.
“It’s hoped that Mr. President will carefully reflect on the issues raised herein and act accordingly, not only in the interest of Nigeria’s unity and stability, but the sustenance of our democratic journey as well.”
They decried the unusual swiftness by INEC to approach the Court of Appeal for an order to professedly “reconfigure” the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used for the conduct of the Presidential Election, and securing same, even when experts indicated that BVAS devices need not necessarily be reconfigured before holding the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections.
“The cunning manner in which INEC rescheduled the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections earlier scheduled for today, March 11, few hours after securing the relieve they sought from the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
“The seeming reluctance of INEC to timeously allow lawyers of the presidential candidate of Labour Party access to inspect and obtain essential materials used across Nigeria for the conduct of the February 25 Presidential election, despite an Order of the Court of Appeal to that effect.”
They further faulted the President for stating that President-elect, Bola Tinubu would be inaugurated as President on May 29, 2023 since the outcome of the election is being contested in court.
“The case is currently with the judiciary and the President has no known powers to determine for the Judiciary who will win the case before her.
“That those utterances of Mr. President are prejudicial and are in contempt to fair hearing. It is offensive to the law of the land and it is obstruction of justice and an intimidation to the Lord Justices who are to hear the case. It could be regarded as an indirect attempt at directing the Court as to what it should do on the case.”
On the forthcoming governorship election and state assembly elections, they charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the inconsistencies and irregularities observed during the Presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25 will not reoccur.
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