President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has decried the calls in some quarters for an interim national government.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Director, Public Affairs and Minister of State Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, alleged plots by some aggrieved partisans to truncate the transition process, particularly his expected swearing-in on May 29.
“We are aware of the intentions of those engaged in these treasonable and subversive acts. We also know those involved in the many plots being contrived to undermine the transition in particular and democracy in general. They are fixated with an Interim Government. They have done it in this country before and it threw the country into avoidable crises for many years and they want to do it again. They are bent on delegitimizing the new government. Some have made treasonable insinuations and openly called for military take-over. It is for these reasons that they are desperate to incite the people against the incoming Government”, the statement said.
It warned the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and that of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, against taking to the streets while also pursuing their cases in court.
The statement noted that on many occasions after the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the election, his public speeches and utterances have centered on reconciliation, forgiveness and greater vision for Nigeria.
It added that the President-elect knows those who are sponsoring violent protests against his mandate as well as their sponsors from within and outside Nigeria and shall be working closely with the security agencies to apprehend them and bring them to book.
Part of the statement reads: “We have watched with great concern the condemnable activities of some persons and groups who are desirous of truncating our democracy.
“For reasons best known to them, these persons have remained embittered that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared winner of the 2023 General Elections. Repeatedly, but unfortunately, these misguided individuals have called for either the cancellation of the results or that the President-elect should not be inaugurated on the 29th of May, 2023.
“We wish to reiterate and emphasise that these positions are not in tandem with our constitutional provisions or our electoral laws. We would have taken these as mere wishful thinking, however because of their implications for national security and public order, we have therefore considered it necessary, if not expedient, to call them to order.
“It is perplexing to see that those contesting the results want to be in the courts and on the streets at the same time. However, if their intention is to truncate the inauguration of the President-elect and Vice-President elect, they should immediately bury the thought. It is gratifying to note that the President has set in motion steps for the actualisation of the swearing-in ceremonies. In this regard, the Presidential Transition Council has remained focused and committed to its Terms of Reference in respect of organizing a hitch-free handover”.
