*Tasks Judiciary not to allow itself to be used to scuttle democracy
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere has asked those fanning embers of non-inauguration of the President elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29 this year, to have a rethink in the interest of the country.
In a statement on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere warned against any step capable of jeopardizing the handing over of of power to elected officers come May 29, 2023.
Afenifere emphasized that, the warning was prompted by reports of steps being taken that may be prejudicial to the swearing-in of winners of the just concluded elections come May 29th, adding,
“Such steps include the attempts to rubbish the outcome of the said elections, especially the presidential election that took place on February 25th, the resuscitation of the calls for the formation of an Interim Government and protests or rallies being conducted especially in Abuja and the United States of America against the result of the said election”. The statement said.
The Pan Yoruba socio political organization noted that it felt so concerned about the untoward development, because of how it is gaining currency in the country and even outside the shores of the land.
“In view of the setbacks the contraption of interim government always brings, it is important to let its advocates know that it is an ill-wind that blows no-one any good. Those of them who simply because they were uncomfortable with the results of February 25, Presidential election, want the baby to be thrown away with the bath-water”, it said.
The Pan Yoruba body added, “ordinarily, it could be said that the allegation of steps capable of jeopardizing the handing over to the President elect on May 29th is unreal. Doing so however would be playing the ostrich going by the confirmation by the DSS, opinions expressed against it by such groups and individual like Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Barrister Olisa Agbakoba, SAN APC Governors’ Forum etc.”
According to Afenifere, ” the disruption will affect all other tiers of government as well, governors at the state level, the legislatures at the national and state levels and perhaps the local government areas. There is therefore the need to exercise a lot of caution”.
It maintained that the laws of the land created avenues to seek redress when we are aggrieved. We enjoin those who may not be satisfied with the outcome of the concluded elections to seek redress through the established channels and not through any other means”.
” It is also important to let members of the public realise that anything short of following due process, particularly in the swearing-in of winners of the just concluded elections, constitutes grave dangers for the country. This must not be accepted or encouraged at all because of its dire consequences” .
While calling on the Judiciary not to entertain cases that may be brought to derail the hard-earned civil rule and thus scuttle our democracy, Afenifere said “the successful conclusion of a general election this year has provided the country another opportunity to re-invent itself”.
” We believe that the government that will be formed at the expiration of President Mohammadu Buhari administration on May 29 this year will open new (positive) vistas for the country. The new government, a product of the process created by the Nigerian Constitution i.e. electoral process, elicits hope of a new lease because of the acrimonious air and near despondence in the the land.”
