Apparently worried by the rise in the pitch of violent groups threatening the conduct of the 2023 general election in the South East, elders of the Northern part of the country yesterday asked the federal government to make sure that the polls are conducted in the zone.
Accordingly, the northern elders under the aegis of Northern Elders Forum (NEF) called on President Muhammadu Buhari to deal with the threats, saying the deafening silence from leaders, elders and politicians from the region and other parts of Nigeria on the dangerous threats is also deeply disturbing.
The northern elders said it is even more disturbing that the threats are being followed by actual attacks on government buildings and killings, including killing of policemen in the region.
NEF warned that if the dangerous trends are not challenged head on, those behind the lawless acts are likely to assume that they will succeed.
In a statement issued by its director, publicity and advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, NEF said it had been its consistent position and that of other patriotic groups that the 2023 elections must hold throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria.
It said any attempt to interfere in the rights of Nigerians to participate in the election of their leaders would amount to a serious assault on the sovereignty of Nigeria and an act that must be resisted.
“Nigerians want a credible election and a peaceful transition to the next administration, and no group should be allowed to plunge the nation into deeper crises by tolerating threats to the elections and peace in the country.
“A threat to the elections is a threat to the democratic system, and the very foundations on which the nation rests. If it succeeds, this threat will signal the start of other crises the country may not recover from,” it said.
2023: INEC Sues For Peace, Pledges Credible Polls
The northern elders called on the Buhari administration to assert its legitimate authority on any lawless group in any part of the country and ensure that voters are not prevented or threatened.
They added that leaders must openly condemn the outrageous threats and assure citizens who want to vote that they can do so.
“Politicians who want to lead us must step out and condemn these threats. For the avoidance of doubt, these threats from groups in the South East are cowardly and childish. Nonetheless, those behind them should know that they will be resisted,” NEF added.
Afenifere Warns Against Foisting Interim Government On Nigeria
Meanwhile, pan Yoruba social cultural organisation Afenifere has implored President Muhammadu Buhari to resist any temptation or pressure to foist on Nigeria any form of change of government that is not a product of democratic practice.
In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere said the latest call was necessitated by a disclosure by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which some elements within the presidency were scheming to have the president foist an interim government on Nigerians.
The organisation noted that those proposing interim government were doing it by way of contriving an atmosphere that would be purported to make free and fair elections difficult if not impossible.
El-Rufai had had on a Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily, alleged that some elements in the presidency were using the lingering fuel and naira scarcity to frustrate the conduct of the elections because their preferred candidate is not in the race.
But Afenifere said that its call is not necessarily in support of the Kaduna state governor or because of its interest in any particular candidate.
It said, “Rather, we are making this call because of the sacrifices we, along with many other Nigerians dead and alive, have made to ensure that we have civil rule. We are happy that we have had about 24 years of civil rule and six transitions between one civilian administration and another since 1999.
“There is no doubt that we can have better administration and that we are desirous of having a change. But that change must be through democratic means as enshrined in our constitution.
“It is in this respect that anything that could prompt the change of government through any other means is unacceptable”.
The organization went further to say that while it is not always in agreement with the position of Governor Rufai on some national issues, on this particular one, “We are in agreement with the governor and all those who insist that elections must be held on February 25 and March 11, 2023 as scheduled.”
The organisation stated that apart from some elements acting or advocating for a regime change that is not recognized by the constitution, some steps taken recently by the federal government and some of its agencies “seem to indicate a desire to create an atmosphere that may make an institution of government in a manner that is alien to the constitution inevitable.
“Three of these steps are (i) creating artificial scarcity of fuel (ii) making it difficult for people to have access to their hard-earned monies and (iii) failure to tame the insecurity in the land. Granted that the latter has been with us for a while and we have been managing to move around in spite of it with the hope that the incoming administration will put a final stop to it.
‘’The first two were deliberately created to frustrate Nigerians and provoke them into actions that can be used as an excuse to foist a non-democratic government on the people,” it added.
Afenifere warned those who may be thinking along this line should perish the thought as such thought-line or action portends grave dangers.
Recalling the statement by the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele that, “there was no need to shift the deadline” of February 10 because the “situation is substantially calming down”.
Afenifere asserted that the bank boss was certainly out of touch with the reality of what is going on in Nigeria.
Tinubu Will Deliver As My Successor, PMB Declares
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declared presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Nigeria’s next president, saying the former Lagos State governor would carry on with his legacy.
Speaking in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Buhari thanked indigenes of the state for their continuous support for his administration, government of the state, asking for more support to consolidate on the gains
Buhari presented the APC standard bearer to teeming supporters at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
He was accompanied by the governors of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma; Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and other party leaders led by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.
Welcoming President Buhari and Tinubu, Governor Uzodimma noted that President Buhari had shown more love and understanding for the South East than previous leaders.
Thanking the president for his historic projects like the Second Niger Bridge, Uzodimma said, “Mr President you have been too good to Imo State.”
He listed the development projects to include upgrading of the Federal Medical Centre to a teaching hospital, Alvan Ikoku College of Education to university and construction of roads in the state.
“Imo State people are very happy with you, Mr President. Your presence here today further shows the strength of the party in the state. Imo State is for APC, and APC is for Imo. In words and actions, we will not disappoint you,’’ he added.
Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked party supporters in the state for coming out to receive the president and presidential candidate, adding that it validates “the handshake across the Niger’’.
He said the presidential candidate has the capacity to move the nation forward, having left landmark records in Lagos State.
On his part, governor of Ebonyi State said President Buhari had always granted the wishes of the South East leaders, particularly in providing support for development.
“No government from the South East has asked you for anything and you turned it down. You are a man of your words. You live what you say, and say what you believe. We are thankful for the second Niger bridge,’’ he said.
The national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, said Asiwaju would succeed the president after May 29, urging support for the candidate to further the gains of the party in the South East.
“APC came with love to share on this Valentine’s Day,’’ he added.
In his remark, Tinubu said love will be sustained in the state and across the country to bring more peace and unity.
“We come with love, peace, stability and progress,’’ he said.
Asiwaju said President Buhari represents integrity, honesty and dependability and had worked very hard to “retool’’ the nation, after the poor management of the country by previous governments.
“The national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, admitted on national television that the party had done damage to the country. You heard it. Will you still vote for the party?’’ He queried.
Tinubu said the incorruptible character of President Buhari will be sustained, while the efforts at infrastructural development, particularly electricity and energy, will be further improved.
PDP Will Form Next Government, Says Atiku
Meanwhile, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday boasted that the next government of the country will be formed by the opposition party.
Speaking during his campaign rally at the Okpara Square, Enugu, Atiku restated that he will be a stepping stone to Igbo presidency, adding that after him, Igbo man will be the next president whether from the South South or South East.
He urged Enugu State to continue to embrace the PDP the way it had been embracing the party in the past
He described Igbo as a universal race, even as he expressed satisfaction with the number of people that attended the rally.
Present at the rally were governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; former Senate president, Anyim Pius Anyim; Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.
Although Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State was absent at the rally, his deputy, Cecilia Ezeilo and the governorship candidate of the PDP, Peter Mbah, were present at the occasion.
Meanwhile, in continuation of its nationwide sensitization on the manifesto of the PDP presidential candidate, Concerned Initiatives for Community and Social Development in collaboration with other civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations CBOs and faith-based organisations (FBOs), organized a one-day meeting for the South East geo- political zone to be the frontline beneficiary of massive developments when he becomes the president.
The meeting, which witnessed a special presentation by Hon. Kunle Yusuf, assistant director, CSOs, PDP presidential campaign team unanimously, adopted the manifesto of Atiku with the following addendum.
