The Natives, a pro-democracy organisation, issued a warning on Friday against the planned disruption of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29.
They claimed that such a disruption has no place in Nigeria because it is not a “Banana Republic.” This is happening as the group announced its intention to start a vigil outside the swearing-in location till Tinubu is sworn in.
The group’s threat came a few hours after police officials in Abuja issued a warning against interfering with events occurring during the presidential inauguration at Eagles Square.
According to the Nigeria Police Force’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police needed to counsel harmed people to seek redress through due process and the rule of law according to intelligence they had received.
By stationing troops at all points of entry and exit into Abuja, the military high command and other security organisations have undertaken security measures in the Federal Capital Territory.
Along significant routes in Abuja, such as the Giri-Gwagwalada-Kwali-Abaji axis, the Zuba-Suleja-Madalla axis, the Kubwa-Bwari axis, and the Nyanya-Mararaba-Keffi axis, gun trucks, armoured personnel carriers, and patrol vehicles have also been positioned.
Patrolling security personnel were spotted in the vicinity. The Convener of The Natives, Edward Smart, stated during a press conference in front of the Appeal Court on Friday that they would vehemently resist any attempts by anti-democratic groups to set up a parallel government or make a request for an interim government.
We are here at the Appeal Court today to make it absolutely clear that we will not tolerate the concept of parallel governance, he stated. In fact, the idea ought to have died out by this point, and we strongly advise those who advocate it to do so because Nigeria is not a banana republic where law and order don’t exist.
The term of President Muhammadu Buhari won’t be extended past Monday, May 29. He will come out on top. We want to know if any Nigerian, regardless of their status, has the right to publicly advocate for anarchy, degrade the judiciary, threaten its judges, or incite mayhem. It won’t happen because we won’t let it.
“We are all the owners of this nation. We all own the resources Asiwaju will be in charge of managing. None of us are opposed to anyone. But we oppose both this insanity and the effort to elect a president who can actually lead the nation. These misinformed individuals should know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not willing to make concessions. He has established himself as a statesman with a solid reputation abroad.
“Having said that, I want to let you know that a vigil will soon begin. Until Asiwaju is sworn in, we will hold it on the streets of Abuja. We will continue today till he receives the gavel and is formally recognised as the current leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a democratic nation that has to be protected.
