May 29: Security agencies must synergise to ensure smooth handover

Few weeks ago, the Defence Headquarters vowed to resist anything that would truncate democracy. The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau told Journalists in Abuja, just as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, threatened to crack down on potential threats to national security and warned the Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network and other fringe groups not to test the will of the military. We barely have about 20 days to usher in the new government.

The Military formation emphasised that the peaceful conduct of the general elections despite the insecurity engineered by the outlawed groups was a testament to the military’s resolve to ensure security across the country. The military spoke against the background of the security crisis that preceded the election in parts of the country and the recent agitation for interim national government by some groups dissatisfied with the outcome of the presidential election won by the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu. Citing the violence and other malpractices that allegedly characterised the polls, the groups were insisting that Tinubu should not be sworn in on May 29, noting that an interim government should be put in place instead. Sequel to the clamour, the Department of State Services alerted the nation to a plot by unnamed politicians to scuttle the transition and install an interim government.

The secret police said it was monitoring the plotters and warned them against fomenting any crisis in the country. On his part, the chief of army staff while addressing the participants at the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference at the Command Officers’ Mess, Abuja, said nobody should threaten the integrity of Nigeria or attempt to truncate democracy in the country.

The army chief stated, “The peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections across the country including in the South-East despite the sense of insecurity created by criminal elements in the region, is a testament to our resolve to ensure security in the entire nation.

“Let me state here that elections or no elections, neither IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) , ESN (Eastern Security Network) nor any other group, groups or individuals should threaten the integrity of this nation as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Speaking further, the COAS commended the army for its adherence to the guidelines and implementation of the decisions taken at the 2022 conference “as evident in our professional conduct and apolitical disposition during the just concluded general elections.

“Your strict adherence to my directives and guidance in this respect is quite commendable. The efforts by the Army Headquarters to go around formations to deliver lectures on introspection of past experiences and efforts at improving NA support to operation safe conduct 2023 are also noted to have yielded desired outcomes. I am proud to say that various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals have commended our troops’ efforts during the 2023 general elections.”

Meanwhile, the Buhari Media Organisation has described politicians demanding an interim national government as irresponsible and mischievous people who do not mean well for the country.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, said that the warning issued by the DSS was a timely message for politicians plotting to thwart the inauguration of the president-elect. It stated, “Like many Nigerians, we were surprised by the alarm raised by the DSS over a plot by some Nigerians to prevent the May 29 inauguration of the president-elect. We are aware that a group of protesters under the umbrella of Free Nigeria Movement last week took to the streets to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to annul the February 25 presidential election and set up an interim government. We however make bold to say that the President Buhari we know would not be part of any form of illegality especially as he had, on more than one occasion, maintained that Tinubu was the choice of the majority of Nigerians that voted on February 28.”

Also the Former Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon in admonition to aggrieved candidates who have lodged petitions at the various election tribunals, urged them to respect the sanctity of the court and humbly accept its decision in the coming days.

The elder statesmen gave the advice in Abuja at the 15th edition of the PUNUKA Annual Lecture 2023 and symposium in honour of the late justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chike Idigbe. The ex-military leader while emphasising the need for a strong, independent and impartial judiciary counselled aggrieved politicians and the public to abide by the decisions of the court.

He said, “As we move forward as a nation, let us not forget the role that the judiciary plays in nation-building, especially the apex court, in carrying out its duty of questioning the veracity of the decisions of the lower court.”

As the Presidential petition court began sitting yesterday over the results of the 2023 General Elections, the security apparatus in the country must begin to strategize to ensure that the handing over ceremony to the new President-elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu is done in the next twenty days smoothly without hitches. Also the law enforcement agencies must beam light to ensure to call to order utterances by Politicians that can cause tension, panic in the country at this sensitive period.