Plot to install interim government is real, says DSS.

TheCable MARCH 29, 2023 The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has confirmed a plot “by some key players” to install an interim government and stop Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being inaugurated as president. The plot includes embarking on violent protests nationwide to engineer the declaration of a state of emergency as well as securing frivolous court injunctions to stall the inauguration, the DSS said. In a statement on Wednesday, Peter Afunanya, the public relations officer of the secret police, said: “The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria. “The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. “The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians. This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country.” There have been agitations for Tinubu, the president-elect, not to be inaugurated on May 29, 2023 based on complaints by his opponents on the presidential election. Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), specifically called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Olukayode Ariwoola, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), not to inaugurate Tinubu, tagging it an “illegality”. Some demonstrators also went to the defence headquarters building in Abuja on Tuesday to protest the outcome of the presidential election in what might be understood as an invitation for military intervention. Afunanya alleged that some protests are being sponsored. “The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels,” he said. “The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States. It will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023. “Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations. “Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation. While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions.”

BREAKING: NLC, TUC shelve proposed strike over cash scarcity - by Abiolapaul

March 28, 2023 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their planned strike slated for Wednesday over the unavailability of naira notes. The two Labour bodies said they would monitor the availability of cash in commercial banks for two weeks before deciding on the next line of action. Presidents of NLC, Joe Ajaero and TUC Festus Osifo said this during a joint press conference on Tuesday in Abuja at the end of their National Executive Council meetings. Ajaero said after receiving briefings from its State councils in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, the NLC decided to defer the planned stay-at-home directive issued to workers last week. He said the NLC would resume the planned protest if naira notes become unavailable to Nigerians by the end of the two weeks. The NLC president said a committee has been set up to monitor situations in banks and report to it at the end of the two weeks extension.

Tinubu nominates Bagudu, Edun into Transition Council - Bolaji Ogundele

Edun bagudu March 28, 2023 The President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has nominated Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu and former Lagos Commissioner for Finance, Mr Olawale Edun, as members of the Presidential Transition Council (PTC). Chairman of the PTC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, announced this on Tuesday during the maiden briefing by the Council. He also said the Council, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 14 has commenced executing its numerous tasks. Buhari, under Executive Order 14, which was signed on February 7, set up the 24-member Council, including two nominees of the President-elect. Mustapha said that since the inauguration, the council had met four times with the one held on Tuesday being the 5th held. He assured that the transition process is on course and all efforts are being made to ensure a smooth transition of power on May 29. “This process of the interface is necessary so as to keep Nigerians abreast of developments, build inclusiveness and lay a solid foundation for a peaceful transition of power in our country. The Presidential Transition Council which was inaugurated on 14th February 2023 is made up of 24 members which include two persons from the President-Elect’s team. “After the declaration of, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President-Elect, the PTC requested him to nominate his representatives on the council as provided in the Executive Order. The President-elect nominated Atiku Bagudu, the Governor of Kebbi State and Chief Olawale Edun both of whom have since joined the process actively,” Mustapha said. He also said that to ensure a smooth transition process and make the work more efficient, the PTC broke into three committees. According to him, the first is Inauguration Committee which is responsible for organising the swearing-in and the inaugural parade; working out the details, programmes and other logistics necessary for the successful inauguration ceremonies. “This committee is headed by the SGF with 15 members and is working through 13 sub-committees facilitate effective planning and execution of the Inauguration activities. These sub-committees are: Media and Publicity; Church Service; Juma’at Service; Protocol and Invitations; Transport and Logistics; The Inauguration Lecture; Ceremonial Parade; Venues and Swearing in; Medical; Inauguration Dinner/Gala Night; Post Inauguration Luncheon; Accommodation and Children’s Day Celebration. “The President-elect has also been requested to nominate 13 persons that will work across the 13 sub-committees. The sub-committees have been working round the clock to ensure that all preparations are in place for a smooth inauguration ceremony. “The second committee is the Transition Documents Committee which is headed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The committee is responsible for compiling all policy, programmes and projects of this administration in the form of a compendium that focuses on this government’s nine priority areas. “It is also in charge of ensuring the preparation of sectoral briefs and handover notes of the current administration for the in-coming administration. The Committee is working assiduously to finalize the compilation of these documents. “The third committee is the Facilities, Security and Intelligence Committee. The duty of this committee is to organise necessary facilities, including furnished office and personnel for the President-and Vice-President-Elect and their transition team; Provision of security for the President and Vice-President Elect; Provision of covert and overt security before, during and after the 2023 Presidential Inauguration including venues of events, hotels, airports, entry points, roads and general surveillance of FCT. This committee is headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA),” he said.

Ministerial aides condemn calls for interim govt. by Bisi Olaniyi

March 28, 2023 Many aides to Ministers under the aegis of the Network of Ministerial Aides (NETMA) have condemned the calls for an interim government. They said the calls against the inauguration of President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for an Interim Government were condemnable and treasonable. The aides accused the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, of inciting Nigerians, particularly the youths, for a repeat of #EndSARS protests. NETMA, in an online statement by its leader, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, declared that it was absurd for Atiku and Obi to claim they won the presidential election and incite Nigerians through massive protests while being in court. The aides said: “We note with grave concern, the current orchestrated actions of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi, in attempting to subject our democratic institutions to ridicule and opprobrium. “High-profile elections in which the processes and results were brutally questioned, such as in Kenya, Venezuela and Myanmar have often fueled instability and distrust among the major ethnic groups. “In a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like ours, allowing the present situation to fester, after the announcement of the winner of the presidential election, is not only antithetical to democratic consolidation, but to the peaceful transfer of power from the present administration to the incoming one. “The actions of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are jeopardising the integrity of the 2023 elections. We are particularly troubled that young, impressionable and innocent young people and some non-discerning adults are going along with Obi/Atiku post-election rhetoric and incendiary remarks.” NETMA’s members also stated that Atiku, Obi and their supporters were attempting to delegitimise the nation’s democracy through their unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud. They said: “Their (Atiku and Obi’s) action is one more step in delegitimising not just the incoming Asiwaju/Shettima administration, but Nigerian democracy generally. We consider this to be a dangerous path to thread. “Their consistent statements and remarks in their staged-managed protests and media interviews are laced with misleading statements and outright falsehoods, which amount to an assault on the democratic process which has been running without interruptions since 1999. “With a fragile polity such as ours, it is our fear that their current actions have the potential of pouring fuel into our democracy, which may be ignited as soon a match is lit. They are also preparing to strike the match any moment from now. “It is the height of absurdity for anyone to suggest the formation of an interim government in Nigeria, which Atiku, Obi and their supporters are clamouring for. Such a call has no place in our constitution and even common sense. No lover of Nigeria should call for the formation of an interim administration, simply because an opposition party failed to win the general election.” The aides also wondered why the presidential candidates of PDP and LP were not calling for the formation of interim administrations in the States where their parties won. Members of NETMA condemned the attempts by Atiku and Obi to demarket the President-elect (Tinubu), while urging them to continue to pursue their petitions in court.