Ahead of the May 29 swearing-in of a new administration, Nigerians are worried over claims that certain unnamed persons were plotting an interim government in the country.
Just yesterday, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed accused the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed of making treasonable comments, an allegation Obi described as totally malicious and fictitious.
A few days ago, the Department of State Services, DSS, had raised an alarm that some persons were plotting an interim government in Nigeria ahead of Tinubu’s swearing-in.
The secret police said it had identified some key players involved in the plot.
DSS said the plot for an interim government is a mischievous way to set aside the constitution, undermine civil rule and plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.
DAILY POST recalls that an interim national government was inaugurated in Nigeria on August 27, 1993, with Ernest Shonekan as the head.
The Interim National Government was inaugurated following the crisis that erupted after the then Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida annulled the victory of MKO Abiola and handed over power to Shonekan.
The largely powerless government was dissolved when the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha seized power on November 17, 1993.
Judge Dolapo Akinsanya ruled that the interim government appointed by Babangida was illegal.
“President Babangida has no legitimate power to sign a decree after August 26, 1993, after his exit, so the decree is void and of no effect,” Akinsanya had ruled.
But, the agitation for an interim government had resurfaced again; though many Nigerians believe that there is no basis for such a move.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the agitation for an interim government was satanic and unconstitutional.
Isiguzoro urged the Department of State Services, DSS, to arrest those behind the clamour for an interim government.
A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, had also noted that there was no constitutional provision for an interim government in Nigeria, and therefore dismissed the idea as total hogwash.
Commenting on the issue, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Yekini Nabena, said those agitating for an interim government were not serious citizens of this country.
Nabena wondered why the DSS had not arrested those behind the call for an interim government and a possible return of the military regime.
Nabena told DAILY POST that: “The problem here is- who are the people calling for the interim government in the first place? Nigeria has gone beyond this. Anybody calling for an interim government is not a serious citizen of this country.
“After Goodluck Jonathan lost the election, he had every right as the sitting president to take such a step but because of the peace of the country, he put the people first.
“Nobody should be talking about an interim government or people saying the military should take over. Why is the DSS announcing such? Did they announce before they arrested Nnamdi Kanu? DSS should have arrested these people and later tell us the reason for arresting them. Is it not after arresting Kanu that they told us?”
