THE Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has asked Nigerians to be on alert and resist any attempt to cause Nigeria’s slide to despotic authoritarianism and life Presidency for President Muhammadu Buhari by those it called certain leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibuchukwu Ezike, Executive Director of CLO in a statement issued on Tuesday said the forceful takeover of the leadership of either chambers of the National Assembly or all portends that Nigeria is sliding into despotism
“We are seriously alarmed by these unpleasant developments and, therefore, wish to call on Nigerians to be on the alert, and to resist any attempt to cause Nigeria’s slide to despotic authoritarianism and possible life presidency, which the forceful takeover of the leadership of either chambers of the National Assembly or all portends,” he said
Only recently, the Senator -elect, Bauchi South Senatorial District, Lawal-Yahaya Gumau, unfolded the plot of the ruling APC to self-perpetuate President Buhari in office after the constitutional two tenures.
He remarked that “this dubious plot is capable of creating political tension in the country,” and cautioned politicians against drawing Nigeria into avoidable political imbroglio.
Ezike said self-perpetuation cannot be tolerated in Africa’s largest democracy that should be a shining example to the world.
His words: “We, therefore, use this medium to call the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the statement credited to Lawal-Yahaya Gumau, that the Senate under the APC would push for a life presidency for President Muhammadu Buhari. he said
“CLO is of the view that this heinous plot may not be unconnected with the desperation by the APC and the presidency to impose stooges on the National Assembly since 2015. We caution “Nigerians against accepting such killer proposal, especially taking into cognisance the ethnic, religious and class configurations of Nigeria.
“We have keenly been observing the persistent abuse and misuse of power, security and anti-graft agencies by the APC government to intimidate the National Assembly, moreso, the Senate, in its (government’s) quest to control and pocket that Arm of government and make the institution otiose. We maintain that this primitive quest is not only barbaric but too strong, obsessive, and fanatical to pass for a mere patriotic tussle for power to do good.
“Except the drive to throw Nigeria into confusion, we have not seen any patriotic rationale behind the consistent calls on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to step down from office on the grounds of his defection to the opposition party.
“Those who are making these calls are obviously aware that their demand is mischievous and inconsistent with Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution. CLO recalls that this is not the first or second time Nigeria would witness such development which the ruling party also benefitted from.
“The case of Honourable Edwin Umezuoke in the Second Republic and His Excellency, the Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal in 2014, are glaring examples.”
