According to reports, over 50 civil society organisations have warned against any attempt from any quarter to disrupt the smooth political transition on May 29, 2023, following the 2023 general elections. The concerned organisations, led by Citizens For Development And Education, CDE, Center For Peace And Environmental Justice,CEPEJ, and Nigerian Peace Advocates, NPA, addressing a press conference, Wednesday,in Abuja, asked those projecting imposition of Interim National Government to bury their dream as it was not known to the Nigerian constitution.
The groups’ warning came following the disclosure by the Department of State Service,DSS, that it uncovered surreptitious moves by some persons not favourably disposed to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election to cause the imposition of Interim National Government,ING in the country.
They, therefore, declared that: “We wish to unequivocally condemn all advocacies for the establishment of Interim Government in Nigeria “We condemn all utterances and unguarded statements promoted directly or through proxy by any politician or religious leader along ethnic, regional or religious sentiment capable of inciting violence in Nigeria, especially at this critical period of our democratic transition; “All media organizations should further exercise restraint in the interest of peace and national unity on all broadcast that may create confusion and or aggravate our fragile security situation, by x-raying all content before airing to avoid the Rwanda experience in Nigeria; “Nigerians should not fall into a trap of any sentiments to serve the interest of any desperate and greedy political leaders; “All aggrieved politicians should stick to legal process for redress as provided by our legal system, and should desist from threatening, intimidating and discrediting the same system he or she is seeking to serve.
International Organizations and Communities should exercise restraint in submitting to the sentiments of some politicians, who are hell-bent on destabilizing the country, as Nigeria direly needs the support of its friends at this critical time of transition, to salvage our nascent democracy in the interest of Africa’s stability and the world at large; “We strongly urge and advise the incoming administration to run an all-inclusive government to give a sense of belonging to every region, ethnic, religious and political affiliations.”
