A group of tribal leaders known as The Natives has implored presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, to join hands with president-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to wriggle the country out of the economic and social morass it is enmeshed in.
Specifically, The Natives said rather than leaving the country on exile, Obi and Atiku should take a cue from President Muhammadu Buhari who, after losing presidential elections thrice, approached the court and after losing at the tribunal remained in Nigeria to contribute to democratic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the Supreme Leader of The Natives, Hon Smart Edwards, also applauded the military, Police and the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) for exposing the plot by some opposition elements to impose an interim national government.
Lauding the security forces for their commitment toward sustaining democracy in Nigeria, Edwards stated that the DSS as an establishment acted swiftly to promptly alert and urgently inform the public of the capricious tendencies of desperate feudal political oligarchies using unsuspecting youths to rubbish all institutions of government and denigrate them to promote anarchy and acts of discountenance in the country.
He stated: “We must at this juncture openly commend profusely the swift response of the DSS under their Director General, the Defense Headquarters, and the entire Intelligence community for their professionalism and commitment to their democratic obligation by alerting, and distancing the establishment from any complicity and readiness to frustrate any mischievous effort to truncate our much-cherished democracy.
“You may wish to know that pathetic political jobbers parading the nation appealing for Interim national government because of their conspiracy theories and illusions on the outcome of the just concluded elections have attracted shame for themselves and their co- travellers by the dignity of our gatekeepers, a worthy armed forces.”
The Natives said Nigeria has been awake to the emergence of political saboteurs reminiscent of June 12, 1993, roaming the nation in search of collaborators to truncate 24 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country.
Edwards added: “These saboteurs by their open and sinister moves have been bungled and busted by the Vigilance and verity of the Department of State Security.
“So for taking a professional stand and democratic position in the face of an intending political catastrophe, protecting our constitution, and non-interference in the statutory roles of the Electoral body, our military and intelligence community deserves global applause.
“Towards this end, the Natives of Nigeria encourage the Military and the intelligence community to remain ever-committed to Civilian rule and sustain their character as professionals and defenders of our sovereignty.
“We acknowledge your quest for more sophistication, better welfare, training, citizen support, and reinvigoration of our military architecture to serve the nation better and thereby sustain our formidable military might in the Region while achieving national unity and cohesion.
“The renewed hope mandate certainly assures us of determination to invest in our security as a sector and this will no doubt revamp the glory of our gallant forces with renewed successes as giants of Africa and defenders of democracy.”
While calling on Peter Obi and Atiku not to abandon Nigeria, Edwards said, “We are hearing rumours that some presidential candidates of various parties have started leaving the country, this is a trademark of any politician who is just an opportunist. We, however, called on our respected Labour Party candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi to please stay in the country because his talents, ability and his contributions are needed in this country as a patriot, he doesn’t need to go on exile.
“We are also hearing that the PDP candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar will soon be on his way back to Dubai, whether he has gone or about to leave, we appeal to him to stay back because his valuable contributions are needed in this country. We encourage all of them to stay back like President Muhammadu Buhari stayed back because that is the process of contributing to development of our democracy and Nigeria.
“For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party lost elections twice but this one he won through proper collaboration and we are asking all to work together for growth of our beloved Nigeria and its democracy.”
On his position on the leadership of the National Assembly, the Natives leader called for tradition of competence over religion and other sentiments, adding that fairness must not be jettisoned.
He said: “The Natives comprises all tribes, all tongues, all beliefs and all religions in Nigeria. The party that has won election (APC) has produced a Muslim-Muslim ticket on the basis of competence. This tradition must be sustained. The tradition of competence, legislative competence, hard work, contributions to victory must be given value.
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