…Fingers religious leaders, politicians
…PDP mocks Presidency
By Ayo Fadimu
The presidency has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by some disruptive elements to throw Nigeria into turmoil.
Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, in a statement issued on Tuesday said already the Department of State Services (DSS), had on Sunday alerted on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.
According to him, the moves are being championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, as the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which will compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.
Adesina insisted that the aim of the disruptive elements is to create a situation whereby a vote of no confidence would be passed on President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil,” the statement partly read.
“The caterwauling, in recent times, by these elements, is to prepare the grounds adequately for their ignoble intentions, which are designed to cause further grief for the country.
“The agent provocateurs hope to achieve through artifice and sleight of hands, what they failed to do through the ballot box in the 2019 elections.”
The presidency, however, maintained that the Buhari administration would keep the country together in spite the activities of agent provocateurs.
“Nigerians have opted for democratic rule, and the only accepted way to change a democratically elected government is through elections, which hold at prescribed times in the country.
“Any other way is patently illegal and even treasonable. Of course, such will attract the necessary consequences.
“These discredited individuals and groups are also in cahoots with external forces to cause maximum damage in their own country.
“But the Presidency already vested with mandate and authority by Nigerians till 2023, pledges to keep the country together, even if some unruly feathers will be ruffled in the process.”
He recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS), on Sunday alerted on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.
The warning comes two days after the Department of State Services says it will begin a clampdown on agents of anarchy in various parts of the country.
DSS in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, faulted those said to be creating instability through comments that threaten the sovereignty and corporate existence of the nation.
It also condemned what it called the unnecessary criticism and activities of some religious and past political leaders who have either called for a forceful change of government or mass action against it.
The DSS described as unfortunate, a situation where those who should be patriotic were allowing their personal ambitions to ruin the nation.
However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the allegation by the Presidency as cheap blackmail in the face of failure.
In a statement on Tuesday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said that the Buhari government and the ruling All Progressives Congress should live up to the responsibilities of office rather than “engage in frivolous allegations against Nigerians.”
The statement was titled, ‘You’re haunted by your own shadows, PDP tells Buhari Presidency, APC.’
It partly read, “It is however imperative to state that the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress are being haunted by their own shadows as Nigerians know the persons as well as the political party with the history and penchant to scuttle democratically elected government.
“Perhaps, the Presidency has forgotten that in 1983, Brigadier Muhammadu Buhari, as he was then known, led a military coup to truncate a democratically elected government thereby causing our nation a huge drawback on democratic governance.
“Also, in 2015, the APC, which was hurriedly formulated, made itself available as a vehicle of brigandage to disrupt our political process by beguiling Nigerians and taking power through violence, propaganda and falsehood.
“Even in 2019, Nigerians will be quick to remember how the APC imported bandits, vandals and thugs from neighboring countries, as political mercenaries, to unleash violence, disrupt our voting processes and muscle itself to power.
“The PDP therefore counsels the Buhari Presidency and the APC to look inwards as all fingers toward any possible plots to upturn our democracy point to them.
“Our party believes that the statement by the Buhari Presidency is an attempt by the APC to heighten political tension in our country ahead of the 2023 election, having realized that they cannot face the people at the polls.”
The PDP, however, advised the APC to know that such blackmail against Nigerians cannot help their cause.
“For us in the PDP, our party will remain undeterred, alongside other patriotic Nigerians, in our commitment towards the sustenance and stability of our democracy as well as the unity and corporate existence of our country, Nigeria,” the party added.