Baba-Ahmed, Keyamo statements wrong, overheat the polity – VATLAD president
VANGUARD for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, VATLAD, have described the position of Datti-Abba Ahmed and Festus Keyamo, SAN, on topical issues in the country as wrong. Odafe also said that both of them are overheating the polity.
The VATLAD national president made this known on Friday, March 24, in a statement made available to Realnews.
Part of the statement reads: “We have very carefully watched and listened to the Interview granted Channels TV on March 22, 2023, by the Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate, Hon. Datti-Baba Ahmed.
“We have also painstakingly read the petition written by Festus Keyamo SAN, in his personal capacity as a Nigerian in response to the Interview granted by Hon. Datti-Baba Ahmed.
“First, we respect the Fundamental Human Rights of both men to their Freedom of Expression on any matter that they feel is so dear to each of them. However, such Freedom must not be exercised recklessly in a manner that could cause public disorder and threat to national peace and security.
“Clearly, Hon. Datti-Baba Ahmed acted in a manner that did not present him as a man who truly believes in Constitutional Democracy and has respect for the judiciary and justices of courts of law. This is regrettable!
“Despite repeated and spirited efforts made by the Channels TV Anchor (Mr Seun Okinbaloye) to caution him against making comments that are capable of undermining public order, peace and security of Nigeria, Hon. Datti-Baba Ahmed kept repeatedly threatening that swearing in a ticket of Tinubu/Shettima that he alleges has not met the provision of section 134 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, is ending democracy in Nigeria.
“He warned that Tinubu must not be sworn in on May 29, 2023, as president by President Buhari lest that will be an end to our democracy.
“He derided the Nigerian judiciary and justices of our Courts of Law, saying emphatically that he has no faith in them yet he is aware that his Presidential Candidate and his Labour Party, do believe in the justices and our judiciary hence they just filed a joint petition at the Court of Law against the outcome of the 2023 Presidential Election.
“Hon. Datti-Baba Ahmed knew that it was extreme for him to say what he was saying, in fact he admitted that he knew, when he said: “it is extreme and I am saying it”. That is exhibition of arrogance and recklessness in the superlative sense of the words
“This can’t and shouldn’t be a case of someone who seeks to be elected as vice president of Nigeria with enormous power vested in him by the Nigerian Constitution. He should have comported himself far better than he did.
“As for the petition written by Festus Keyamo, SAN, to DSS against Datti-Baba Ahmed, we also don’t see any patriotic and genuine intention behind his decision and action as he claims; on the contrary, it is solely driven by political interest to defend his APC and President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed, he being the Spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
“We therefore call on Department of State Security (DSS) to ignore his petition. We strongly believe that the DSS being a well equipped and professional Secret Security Service, patriotically monitors all utterances and actions of top politicians across our Country at this moment and need nobody including Festus Keyamo, SAN, to request it to carry out its Lawful Duty.
“Finally, we strongly advise political leaders and their supporters of all political parties to conduct themselves peacefully and strictly in accordance with the Laws of Nigeria particularly now that all aggrieved Presidential Candidates have voluntarily submitted themselves to the Courts of Law to resolve perceived Election Grievances.”
