Group says calls for Interim National Government unpatriotic

The Patriots in Defense of Democracy, a political pressure group, has described as condemnable and unpatriotic calls by some persons for the establishment of an Interim National Government against a democratically elected one.

Mr Donald Ayibiowo, the Co-Convener of the group, said this on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a solidarity rally organised by them.

According to him, the rally is to redirect ongoing narratives about the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, and the emergence of Sen. Bola Tinubu as President-elect.

“This is condemnable, unpatriotic and should be rejected by all men of goodwill, political parties have contested elections and winners had emerged.

“And due process of law is being followed in resolving whatever dispute may have arisen from the election.

“It may not have been the best of elections, but it is credible and majority of Nigerians are happy, and Section 139 of our Constitution says whoever is aggrieved should go to the court,’’ Ayibiowo said.

He added that Section 153 of the Constitution had also made provision for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to superintend over elections in the country.

He pointed out that it was wrong for a group of individuals to discredit an election that produced Governors and lawmakers across the country in its entirety.

He said calling for the annulment of such an election was way out of it and going too far.

Ayibiowu, therefore, called on members of opposition parties to sheath their swords and let peace reign in the country rather that heating up the polity with calls to abort the democratic process.

Mr Tosin Adeyanju, the Convener of the group, said the rally was to redirect the perspective making the rounds that those protesting against the election and emergence of Tinubu as President-elect were in the majority.

“They are not in the majority, they are in the minority and very few, just may be one per cent are the ones complaining about the outcome of the election.

“We are therefore here to tell Nigerians that the election was free, fair and credible,  and that Tinubu have the support of majority of Nigerians.

“And we will be here, celebrating his victory, eating, drinking and counting down to May 29, his inauguration date,’’ Adeyanju said.

On how to sustain the rally till May 29, he said there would be voluntary contributions from members of the group.

He noted that the fact that about seven incumbent governors lost their election bid to the Senate was an attestation that the election was free, fair and credible.

This, Adeyaju added, was especially because such had never happened in the country`s political history.

He alleged that in the past, election results were usually written in government houses and in the houses of political big wigs, saying the introduction of BVAS technology by INEC was the game changer.

He recalled that even the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost some of its strong holds such as Zamfara and Lagos States, among others, to opposition political parties.

“By and large, the election was free, fair and credible, but people just want to discredit it, saying it was rigged,” Adeyanju stressed.

Dr Halima Usman, a member of the group, also said the rally was to drive home a point and draw the attention of Nigerians on the possible implications of heating up the polity with incendiary comments.

She called on Nigerians and the political class especially, to accept the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election, adding that the election had been won and lost.

According to her, the election was free, fair and credible in accordance with the Electoral Act and guidelines, saying its outcome should be accepted in good faith by all Nigerians.

She said this was critical to keep the country in peace and unity and move her to the next level of development.

Mr Segun Mayegun, in his remarks, said those with Tinubu were in the majority and would do everything possible to secure his mandate.

He added that they would also not allow Tinubu`s election as President-elect to be annulled as desired by those in the opposition.

He advised that whoever that was not satisfied with the outcome of the election should approach the court with evidence to prove their allegations of rigging.

He added that irrespective of what it would cost in terms of logistics and food, the group would continue the rally until the last minute of Tinubu`s inauguration as the country’s 16th president.

He however underscored the need for security agents to call to order politicians that had been making comments capable of heating up the polity.

He described Tinubu as the hero of true federalism in Nigeria, having canvassed physical federalism and fought hard alongside other Nigerians to enthrone democracy in the country.

According to Mayegun, the Feb. 25 presidential election is the first time one of those who fought for the country`s democracy will be elected as president.