BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, on Saturday alleged plots by the opposition parties to legally stop the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu before May 29.
In a tweet on his official handle, the All Progressives Congress chieftain further alleged that some legal practitioners have been flown to the country to do the job.
The Minister, however, ascribed the move and reactions it preceded as illiteracy, saying some unscrupulous characters were taking advantage of those he termed “nattering nitwits”.
He wrote, “I read somewhere that some supposedly learned fellow are assuring the nattering nitwits that the inauguration of @officialABAT can be legally stopped before May 29th and yet another story that some foreign lawyers have been flown in to achieve that purpose. And I read many excited reactions from these nitwits.
“Then I shook my head and murmured under my breath, ‘illiteracy is truly a disease and it is sad that some unscrupulous characters are taking advantage of these poor fellows.”
Also on Friday, the Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola to boycott the inauguration of Tinubu on May 29, 2023.
Baba-Ahmed made this call while speaking on a live television interview saying, swearing in a ticket that failed to meet constitutional requirements was a violation of democracy.
He said the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu violated the rules when he issued a Certificate of Return to Tinubu.
Baba-Ahmed said, “Swearing in a ticket that has not met the constitutional requirements of the constitution… Whoever does not meet the constitutional requirements must never be sworn in.
“Mr. President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN, your lordship, do not partake in unconstitutionality.”
Datti, Founder of Baze University in Abuja, had previously said swearing in Tinubu would be ending democracy in Nigeria.
This view irked Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who described it as “fascist.”
Emeritus Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has equally expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing preparations to inaugurate the new administration, led by Tinubu.
Cardinal Onaiyekan noted that the 2023 general election was manipulated, and only the tribunal can decide who the eventual winner will be.
The Emeritus Bishop, who spoke on Thursday in a television programme monitored by The Point, expressed hope that a new Nigeria is possible, adding that he would see the anticipated new Nigeria before he dies.
“You have chosen to single out this President- Elect @officialABA this time around because the candidate you and your other religious brethren openly supported lost the election and you all feel humiliated and embarrassed”
Onaiyekan, who was reacting to the 2023 presidential poll, emphasized that the election was rigged, stressing that those involved in manipulating the outcome of the elections know themselves.
The clergyman regretted that the election tribunal was yet to decide on the petitions filed by opposition parties before the May 29 handover, saying God knows those that rigged the election.
He said, “I am 80, so I am not going anywhere. I am still dreaming that before I go to paradise, I should see a better Nigeria, and I believe it is possible.
“Those who rigged the election know they did it. Those who refused to allow the people’s will to prevail, they know. And the wonderful thing is that God himself knows them.
“Even the court may not know, but God knows them. And they know themselves. The more we mention God is the more we should be on guard not to be using the name of God in vain.
“There are countries that do not want to mention God, but they are running their affairs well.
“But if we decide to keep mentioning God, then we must run our affairs according to the will of God.”
Onaiyekan advised that the system of electioneering in the nation should be reviewed, noting that it would produce winners who don’t have the shadow of the court lurking behind their victory.
“There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation. We have a president-elect whose election is being challenged and the court is handling it.
“I’m still waiting for the court to tell me who won the election. It doesn’t make much sense to be swearing-in people when they are still in court.
“I think we need to review our election process, so we do have a winner who will be sworn in and whom everybody would rally around.
“It is a pity that it is taking longer for the court to come to its decision. My problem is that the whole system of our election must be properly reviewed so that it would be easier for winners to emerge according to the wishes of the people.
“It is not right to have a system that is constantly contested. We should find out why every election is being contested.”
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, Keyamo asked the Emeritus Bishop to stop being an embarrassment to the body of Christ because of Tinubu’s election.
He said: “Dear Daddy Onaiyekan, you know we all respect you a lot, but your political comments are becoming unstatesmanlike.
“A statesman who doubles as a Man of God should strive to be fair to all. You didn’t say the same thing when Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari were all sworn in as Presidents when their cases were still before the courts.
“You have chosen to single out this President- Elect @officialABA this time around because the candidate you and your other religious brethren openly supported lost the election and you all feel humiliated and embarrassed.
“All issues raised against the victory of @officialABAT in court now (whether it is 25% votes in FCT or the fake drug issue, etc), are not different from issues raised against previous Presidents-elect because basically the complaints have always been that the declared victor did not win the election fair and square or was not qualified to contest the election. No disqualifying issue against a candidate can be greater than other disqualifying issues since a single issue can decide a case against a President-elect.
“So, why all the fuse now? It has always been our electoral template since 1999 for the declared winners to be sworn into office in order TO AVOID A VACUUM and not to foist an unconstitutional contraption on the system whilst the cases are in court.
“My dear daddy, may I respectfully advise that going forward, you and your brethren may consider stepping back from the deep and murky waters of politics and desist from descending into the arena of political conflicts where your children in your congregations find themselves on different sides of political divides, so it would be unfair to them for you to openly take sides.
“The embarrassment to the Body of Christ is getting too much and no politician is worth dragging this dignified body into unnecessary political controversy. Is this too much to ask, Daddy?”
NLC debunks alleged plans by Ajaero to scuttle inauguration
In the same vein, the Nigeria Labour Congress, on Friday, dismissed a report by the Arewa Youth Assembly, petitioning security agencies to effect immediate arrest of its President, Joe Ajaero, on alleged plot to scuttle the inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The NLC, in a statement by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said the allegations were cheap blackmail intended to divert the attention of the leadership of the Congress from its obligation and mission to the people.
It said neither Ajaero nor the NLC had any plan to scuttle the inauguration of Tinubu, stating that those who made the allegation were mere cowards with allegiance to their bottomless stomachs, bargaining chips for political appointments.
The statement explained that the promoters of the blackmail forgot that Ajaero was among the first leaders of thoughts to advise aggrieved parties to go to court.
The statement, which described Ajaero as a law-abiding citizen and a stickler for the separation and expression of powers, said he does not believe in intimidation of judges but holds the view that corrupt judges should be put in their place.
It said the NLC is a pan-Nigerian organisation not governed by primordial sentiments such as ethnicity or religion.
The Arewa Youth Assembly, during a press conference at Arewa House in Kaduna, accused Ajaero of using the NLC as a platform to achieve his Biafra agenda.
The group also accused him of corruption, alleging that himself and his secretary general received one bullet proof SUV car each worth N1billion to sabotage the planned workers strike against the cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In a response, the NLC said Ajaero has not employed any one since he resumed office as President of the Congress, nor has he accepted a gift of an SUV bulletproof van from any one.
The statement reads in part: “As for their promoters or sponsors, they are cowards with allegiance to nothing in life except their bottomless stomachs.
We know why they did this; bargaining chips for appointments. We wish them good luck as life goes in full circle.
“More amusing is the allegation that Peter Obi was invited to the commemoration of May Day to the exclusion of other presidential candidates. The records are there for all to see that all the candidates were invited. However, the right to honour this invitation resided with the invitees.
“To, therefore, label and profile him as an ethicist is not only criminal but suggestive of fear of Ajaero in some quarters. However, those in mortal fear of Ajaero are the ones that constitute a threat to our national security for they are the ones with something to hide.
“In spite of their vitriol and blackmail, Ajaero will not back down but will continue to act, speak and lead the Congress with fear of God and in line with the fine traditions of lawful and patriotic protest.
“As for Arewa Youths Assembly, there are too many phony organisations in search of bread and butter. They are floating character assassins waiting to hire for pittance. We will not waste our time on them except to point out that they have only succeeded in denigrating the name Arewa, which sadly has been franchised for pecuniary benefits.”
Make no attempt to scuttle Tinubu’s inauguration, DHQ warns politicians
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday reiterated its earlier warning to those planning to scuttle the May 29 inauguration of Tinubu to perish the thought or face the dire consequences.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Musa Danmadami, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the bi-weekly press briefing, said the military is a national organisation always ready to help.
Responding to a question at the briefing, Danmadami said the military had not seen reasons the inauguration of the President-elect won’t hold, noting that the police and other security agencies were working hand-in-hand to neutralise any possible threat.
He said the military was always on standby to forestall any unwanted happenings in the country before, during and after the transition billed to hold at the end of the month.
“As far as internal security is concerned, the police still remain the lead agency. The Armed Forces and other security operatives are only playing a supportive role. I will reiterate that we are on standby to make sure that nothing unwanted happens.
“The issue of threat to the security and stability of the country is addressed promptly. Elections have come and gone. For the presidential election, a winner has been announced.
“There is a transition committee in place comprising all members of the security agencies, ministries and agencies of government to make sure the event is held successfully and without a glitch.
“We don’t see reasons why there should be a problem during the activity. The inauguration will come and go and nothing will happen. We are not going to relent at ensuring there is peace and stability across the length and breadth of the country,” he said.
Group berates those against Tinubu’s inauguration
A group, Yoruba Commitment Leaders has berated individuals and groups who are calling for the postponement or outright cancellation of the swearing-in of Tinubu, as required by the relevant statutes of the country.
“No one can pretend that this is the first general election that will produce a result which would be contested before an election tribunal. Were the declared winners of those elections not sworn in while the legal battles over the results of the elections were going on?”
The group noted that the call resulted from the hangover of the heavy defeat suffered at the last Presidential polls.
The group’s position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting held in Ikenne, Ikenne local government area of Ogun State.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the Convener of the group, Tayo Onayemi, Akeem Aponmade, the Secretary, Niyi Sodiya, Diran Bamgbopa and Mrs. Buky Tunde Oshunrinde.
The communiqué read, “YCL noted with dismay the campaign by some individuals and groups for the postponement or outright cancellation of the swearing-in of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as required by the relevant statutes of the country.”
The group said, this is a critical period when all and sundry should collaborate with the President-elect in formulating strategies on how to tackle the myriad of problems confronting the nation including restructuring.
It said, “These people are busy running around looking for ways to scuttle a constitutional process,” saying that their efforts are doomed to fail, because they are working against the law of the land.
YCL advised such individuals and groups to go and study the statutes governing the electoral process properly, adding that in the interest of these ‘self-serving individuals’ and the overall interest of the nation, they desist from the reckless and provocative statements and actions that can derail the nation’s democracy.
“They should join hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to frontally confront the problems bedeviling this country.
“No one can pretend that this is the first general election that will produce a result which would be contested before an election tribunal. Were the declared winners of those elections not sworn in while the legal battles over the results of the elections were going on?”
“YCL then wonders why the case of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect is different. We see pure mischief on the part of those who now advocate for a change in this established legal procedure, as provided in the Electoral Act, in the middle of the game.”
A public affairs analyst, Fola Ojo, said “All over the world, no electoral system is perfect. But it appears Nigeria is inching toward perfection.”
He noted that the last election saw unknown men and women across Nigeria who never thought they had a chance to win an election in Nigeria pulling victories off.
“They had no money to bribe voters or even print campaign fliers, but now they will serve in state Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, and will soon be occupying the governors’ mansion. That’s encouraging for many.
“The 2023 election is over. Court battles ahead are welcome and part of the process. After judicial adjudication, if the baton is ordered to change hands from Tinubu to Atiku who came second in the election, it is part of the order Nigerians will respect. But until then, Tinubu is the president-elect. He will be sworn in according to the Constitution. And he will take reins of power. The Interim Government concocted by some people and their evil sponsors will not see the light of day. Nigerians will not allow Nigeria to be burnt down by people burnt out by the air of humiliating defeat. They will not allow creeps handpick a pervert to preside over Nigeria. It will not happen.”
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has fixed May 8 for the hearing of the petitions filed by the opposition parties challenging the declaration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election.
The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, as well as candidates of the Action Alliance, Allied Peoples Mandate and Action Peoples party had approached the tribunal to upturn Tinubu’s victory, alleging mass electoral fraud and constitutional breach in his declaration by INEC.
