Arrest, reveal identities of those plotting interim gov’t — IPAC tells DSS

The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani has told the Department of State Service (DSS) to reveal the identities of and arrest those who are planning to frustrate the May 29 handover in Nigeria.

Sani told the DSS to name and arrest those plotting to sabotage the inauguration of the next government and install an interim government in the country.

Sani said the alarm raised about the said plotters by the DSS was not enough, but the secret police should take against them.

“To say the least, it is an embarrassment because I believe that the DSS, the agency that is in charge of gathering intelligence and then passing intelligence to other agencies, are supposed to take action. And I don’t think it serves the purpose of this country for the DSS to come and make this pronouncement in the manner they are making it.

“What would have made sense to us is that so person is involved, so person has been arrested or is under interrogation or whatever action has been taken. Okay, what do we do as politicians or citizens of this country? We can’t do nothing,” Sani said.

He said the law enforcement agencies need to show that everybody is below the law, for it to serve as warning to others who might want to work against democratic value of the country.

The presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the just concluded February 25 presidential election also noted that the security agents need to serve as protection for the country’s democracy.

“Look at what happened in the United States when (Donald) Trump wanted to interrupt the inauguration of (Joe) Biden, something happened, they took action. So, I believe as much as we commend the effort of the DSS, I think they should go beyond that because as citizens what can we do?” he queried.

The DSS has confirmed a plot “by some key players” to put in place an interim government and stop the president-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu from being sworn-in as president.

The DSS admitted that there are plans to stage violent protests across the federation and cause a declaration of a state of emergency.

It also revealed that some elements are planning to secure frivolous court injunction to frustrate the process of inauguration in the country.

This was revealed by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, in a statement released on Wednesday March 29.

Afunanya 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.”

He also admitted that some protests witnessed in recent time were 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.”

‘Don’t welcome interim gov’t — Lawyer tells int’l community

While reacting to the development on the programme, a legal practitioner and security expert, Bulama Bukarti, spoke against the plot to install an interim government, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

He sent message to the country’s international partners not to welcome any government that acquires power in the country through illegal way.

“Interim government or whatever name it is called is illegal, it is unconstitutional, has no basis in law and nobody in Nigeria has the right to install that kind of government and therefore we should stop that kind of illegal calls.

“I call on Nigeria’s international partners, especially Nigeria’s Western partners to take this threat seriously and to make it clear that they will not accept any government that comes into power through unconstitutional means and then sanction any individual that is involved in the kind of things that the DSS is warning us about,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) has given a reassurance of the May 29, 2023 handover, reaffirming that all necessary arrangements have been put in place for a successful exercise.

The PTC reaffirmed the sanctity of the handover for next administration.

It stated that the refurbishment of offices of the President elect Senator Bola Tinubu and the Vice President elect, Kashim Shettima had been completed.

The refurbishment was completed with the same facilities at the Defence House.

It added that the operatives of the State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have been mobilised to the locations of the president elect and his VP.

The transition council revealed that protocol officers have been connected to them from the National Intelligence Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This was revealed by the Secretary to Government of the Federation and Chairman of the PTC, Boss Mustapha in Abuja.

He said the handover or swearing in would take place on May 29 irrespective of the litigations in contradiction to the requirements of the country’s Constitution.

He said court processes might proceed after the inauguration until final conclusion by the supreme court.

He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari would not spend an extra day in power.