Nigeria presidency says unimpeachable evidence at its disposal indicates that disgruntled religious and political leaders are working with “external forces” to overthrow the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, in a statement on Tuesday, said the plan by these Nigerian leaders is to recruit heads of some ethnic groups and politicians to pass a vote of no confidence on Buhari and “throw the land into further turmoil”.
He said: “Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership”
“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 agent provocateurs hope to achieve through artifice and sleight of hands, what they failed to do through the ballot box in the 2019 elections.
“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 would 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 would be ruffled in the process.”
The country’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had on Monday vowed that military personnel remained loyal to the administration of President Buhari, and reminded all military personnel that it is treasonable to even contemplate the illegality of a coup.
The DHQ noted that the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any personnel found to collude with people having such an agenda.
ARISE News had reported the warning issued by the Department of State Services (DSS) stating that “misguided elements” are threatening Nigeria’s unity and peaceful co-existence, calling on them to desist from such act.
By Abel Ejikeme