Last week, the Department of Secret Service (DSS) informed Nigerians that a plan was afoot to install an interim national government in the country. The agency said it had identified some key players in the plot but did not give the names of the masterminds. According to the department, the planners of the interim government had already held several meetings during which they weighed many options to actualize their scheme, including sponsoring endless mass protests across Nigerian cities, securing a warrant to declare a state of emergency or a court injunction to stop the inauguration of the executive and the legislature at the federal and state levels.
In a statement signed by Dr. Peter Afunanya, the service’s spokesman, the DSS said it “considers the 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. The illegality 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.”
The statement by the DSS would have been taken as a joke if not that the message borders on the country’s continued existence. The content of the statement is so gnawing and mind-numbing that I was tempted to question its source. I will explain my perplexity presently.
If indeed there are plans by some people to foist an interim national government on the nation and DSS got wind of it, is a press statement the next thing? What is the essence of the agency? Is it not to nip such moves in the bud? Is the DSS not supposed to investigate such matters, round up those involved and let them face the full weight of the country’s law? By issuing the statement what does the DSS expect from the average Nigerian, to go after the alleged ING plotters and arrest them?
The DSS advertised its ignorance of the constitution and the power of the nation’s judicial system by stating that the ING schemers plan to secure a warrant to declare a state of emergency. The fact is that no court in the land can issue a warrant to declare a state of emergency. According to Section 305 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), only the President of the country can declare a state of emergency. The Section states thus: The president shall have power to issue a proclamation of a state of emergency only when:
(a) the Federation is at war;
(b) the Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war;
(c) there is actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof to such extent as to require extraordinary measures to restore peace and security;
(d) there is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger;
(e) there is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity, affecting the community or a section of the community in the Federation;
(f) there is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat to the existence of the Federation; or
(g) the President receives a request to do so in accordance with the provisions of section (4) of this section.
So, where is the place of a warrant in all of these?
The DSS also states that those planning ING hope to get a court injunction to stop the inauguration of the executive and the legislature at both federal and state levels. I find that absurd. Those who felt shortchanged for any reason during the last elections have already filed their petitions. Since the issue at hand has to do with elections, which court in the land has the jurisdiction to hear electoral matters when it is not the Court of Appeal or an Election Tribunal? So, how would anyone secure a court injunction to stop the President-Elect’s inauguration?
In my estimation, with the statement issued last week, the DSS has successfully given the weight of a national discourse to what seemed a beer parlourrumour. This is currently heating up the polity. Now, not a few people are worried that there may be a repeat of what happened in 1993.
I think the only person that can stop the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s president is the incumbent, President MuhammaduBuhari. Even if some people are angling for an interim national government, they cannot form the government without the involvement of President MuhammaduBuhari. If anyone is looking at fomenting trouble for the purpose of having the declaration of a state of emergency, it cannot work unless President MuhammaduBuhari buys into it. So, President MuhammaduBuhari holds the key to AsiwajuTinubu’s inauguration, not any ING agitator.
But the good news is that President MuhammaduBuhari has told Nigerians ad infinitum that he is tired and looking forward to his retirement to Daura, his hometown. To this end, Buhari set up a Presidential Transition Council to facilitate and manage the handing over of power by his government even before the presidential election was held. Just last week, AsiwajuTinubu nominated Kebbi State Governor, AtikuBagudu, and Wale Edun, into the Presidential Transition Council. Apparently, President Buhari has no plan to extend his stay in office or install an interim national government to replace him. So, he is willing to allow the will of Nigerians, as expressed on February 25, 2023, to stand.
Since the DSS in the same statement said that it “supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction” and that “it also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the states” and will “collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations on May 29, 2023,” it should go ahead and do all in its power to ensure that there is smooth transition and deal routinely with those who may have other plans without creating anxiety among Nigerians.
That is the least the department can do.
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