Nigerian Military and Rejecting the Poison Chalice of Interim Govt
By MUKHTAR Ya’u Madobi
Literally, the term democracy refers to the government of the people, by the people and for the people. Under this system of government, the citizens are given the opportunity to choose their leaders through elections.
Nigeria, as a country, has a chequered history with junta regimes. But since 1999, she embraced civilian rule. And since then, the Giant of Africa has persistently advocated, as well as a practiced democratic governance as a system of political power.
No one deserves credit, however for safeguarding the country’s democracy than its Armed Forces.
From the dawn of the fourth republic, the Nigerian Military has been instrumental in ensuring the seamless transition among various successive civilian governments.
And this selfless service is what the AFN will continue to render just as the country is currently preparing for another handing over to the next incoming administration with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president.
The military has once again renewed its oath that it will not rest its oars until the mandate is given to those who legitimately deserved it. This assurance was coming from the military after insinuation that some powerful opposition are trying to undermine and ultimately ruin the handing over to Mr. Tinubu by president Muhammadu Buhari on the forthcoming May 29, 2023.
Recall that the President-elect Tinubu had on March 26 raised an alarm over alleged plots by some aggrieved partisans to truncate the transition process, particularly his expected swearing-in on May 29. He however warned the plotters to desist and give peace a chance.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Director, Public Affairs and Minister of State Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, noted that those who have taken to the streets protesting against his mandate are fixated on having an Interim National Government, ING.
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 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 an avoidable crisis 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.”
Simultaneously, a few days after Tinubu’s uproar, the famous country’s security agency responsible for gathering domestic intelligence and thwarting national security breaches responded by confirming the former’s assertion.
The Department of State Services, DSS, through its Director of Public Relations, Peter Afunanya, emphasized that some elements are working tirelessly to ruin the transition and also plotting to install an interim government in the long run.
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According to DSS, the planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.
It is good to note that the illegality of this action is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.
This plot being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.
While reacting to the unfortunate development, the Defence Headquarters had described calls for an interim government as unconstitutional especially after the emergence of the president-elect.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, condemned the move while briefing journalists on the operational activities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in Abuja.
Danmadami condemned the clamour for an interim government by those unhappy with the outcome of the presidential election, stating that the ING was illegal and has no safe haven in the constitution.
Interestingly, political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party supported the military’s pledge to defend the constitution.
The DHQ spokesman said, “On the issue of an interim government, it is rather unfortunate; an election has been conducted and INEC, which is mandated, has announced a president-elect. It is not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made by the Presidency that there is nothing like an interim national government.
“So I think people were just trying to be mischievous. It is unconstitutional and all of us know that the Constitution does not provide for an Interim National Government; that is the point the Presidency has been hammering on and that is our stand because that is what the Constitution says. It is unconstitutional, so, anything unconstitutional, as far as I’m concerned, is not applicable.”
Meanwhile, this is not the first time that the military is coming to publicly restate its commitment to defending the constitution at whatever cost in order to ensure public order and safety.
Recall that, in the middle of January 2023, Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor, assured citizens that there’d be no more coups in Nigeria, adding that the armed forces would work with the police to provide security during the general elections- a pledge which has been fulfilled.
Also, during the preparations for the just concluded presidential election, the military had to issue another stern warning to some misguided political propagandists over a mischievous and concocted coup story.
Subject to aforementioned events, it’s apt to aver that the Nigerian Military have for over the years continued to remain the ultimate defenders of our democracy and fundamental human rights.
Therefore, citizens and other stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society Organizations etc. should continue to support the military cause in taming the menace of insecurity.
This is necessary because the situation requires a whole-of-society and government approach.
MUKHTAR is the author of a book on “National Security Strategies” and is a staff writer with the Emergency Digest.
