House of Reps passes motion condemning interim government asking DSS to arrest those involved

NIGERIA'S House of Representatives has adopted a motion urging the department of State Security (DSS) too arrest and prosecute any politician calling for the creating of an interim government in the country.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the other main gladiators in the contest were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results.

Several leading opposition figures led by Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party's vice presidential candidate, who felt the elections were not free and fair, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to annul them. Many opposition politicians have also demanded that an interim national government be instituted on May 29 rather than have Asiwaju Tinubu sworn-in as president.

Condemning such calls, yesterday, the House of Representatives adopted a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon Unyime Idem, a PDP lawmaker from Akwa Ibom State. In his motion Hon Idem said politicians are encouraging aggrieved persons to call for unconstitutional intervention, describing the interim government as undemocratic, unconstitutional and unknown to Nigerian laws.

Contributing to the debate, Hon Sergius Ogun asked the DSS to arrest conspirators involved in the plot to foist an interim government on Nigeria. He said: “You’re wasting our precious time telling us to condemn it. If this government is alive to its responsibilities this should not even be an issue that will we will be dissipating energy on in this House.”

However, the deputy speaker, Hon Idris Wase intervened, saying arresting alleged plotters will lead to a political crisis. He stated that politicians must join the security operatives to stop the plot that could derail democracy in Nigeria.

Hon Wase said: “For good reasons, understand that we are under a democratic tenet when they are mentioning this. The situation we have found ourselves, we must talk to ourselves to ensure the right thing is being done.”

Consequently, the House mandated security agencies to be on alert to forestall the possible breakdown of law and order. President-elect Bola Tinubu is due to be sworn-in on May 29 when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari ends.