Protests: Let’s avoid crisis over Tinubu’s mandate– Coalition
The Coalition for a Better Nigeria says the Abuja street protest against the presidential victory of Sen. Bola Tinubu is a looming danger and invitation to crisis.
Protests have been rocking the nation’s capital, over the Feb. 25 elections, with protesters kicking against the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Tinubu.
The anti-Tinubu protesters, under the aegis of National Youth League for the Defence of Democracy (NYLDD), demanded the invocation of an Interim National Government (ING) to conduct a fresh election and sacking of INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, Mr Bamiji Awa, the National Coordinator of the coalition said that group had begun rallies to kick against call for a Interim National Government or any attempt to scuttle May 29 transition.
Awa, also the President – General, Grand Council of Yoruba Youths, urged the silent majority of Nigerians to speak out and protect people’s mandate.
He described the Abuja street protests as shameful and disgusting, saying the organisers were ‘pure enemies’ of democracy.
Awa said: “We therefore say ‘enough is enough’.
“We call on Inspector General of Police to henceforth intervene by stopping this ongoing show of shame by the opposition.
“Their selfish interest and collective threat to our democracy in calling for the outright cancellation of the Presidential election to pave way for the Interim National Government, a repeat of June 12 saga, is well understood and has since become a common knowledge.”
He said that the group, compromising foremost June 12 activists across the globe, were calling on general public to rise up immediately and defend their mandate freely given to Tinubu, of APC in the Feb. 25 Presidential Election.
According to him, the group’s peaceful rally will continue and hold simultaneously in the 36 states of the federation should there be continuation of Anti-Tinubu protest anywhere in the country.
Awa said that the coalition, being an umbrella body of hundreds of youth and students’ organisations within and outside Nigeria, would not hesitate to occupy Nigeria with peaceful rallies.
According to him, all the security apparatuses and law enforcement agencies in the country must not be silent in the face of illegal protests to subvert the will of the people.
“It’s no retreat, no surrender until May 29 inauguration becomes a reality.
“We are better experienced with bitter experience of the June 12 election annulment, exactly 30 years ago coupled with modern technology,” he said.
Awa, the Executive President, Bola Ige Centre for Justice called for caution among politicians in the country.
