Several Pro-Tinubu protesters on Monday grounded activities at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and passed a vote of confidence in the electoral umpire.
The protesters comprising Nigerians from various ethnic nationalities under the auspices of The Natives, disrupted human and vehicular movement outside the commission’s headquarters…… CONTINUE READING
They also urged the United State of America, United Kingdom and other international community not to promote insurrection in Nigeria with their utterances on the already concluded February 25 presidential election.
The group equally warned that its 20 million members across the country will resist any form of intimidation and threat from the supporters of both Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar respectively against democracy in Nigeria and supporters of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to newsmen during the presentation of their letter to INEC officials during the thank you peaceful walk to the Commission, Supreme Leader of The Natives, Smart Edwards, cautioned politicians to stop inciting Nigerians against each other and the democratic process.
He said his group was at the INEC to thank the commission for standing firm against intimidation, propaganda and all forms of blackmail by the people he described as “bad losers’, and specifically cautioned LP vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti against inflammatory statements.
“We want to particularly warn the LP vice president candidate, Datti-Ahmed to apply caution because Nigeria is a country not his Base University. We have come to INEC to affirm that elections were conducted and APC, PDP, NNPP, LP and other political parties went into the contest.
“Some people have been going round the country inciting other people, calling for a taboo, they are calling for Interim National Government that will never happen, not in Nigeria, not in any African country that we support.
“America is currently handling insurrection against her own state, so we are certain that America, United Kingdom and other Nations will not promote insurrection in our Nation Nigeria.
“We want to tell you (INEC) that people have their rights to protest, whosoever they are, they are citizens with such rights, but they do not have the rights to provoke the voters. It is a taboo for anybody under any influence of alcohol or any other substance to rise up and call for Interim Government in this Nation when we still have INEC intact.
“Elections were conducted by Nigerians, and these Nigerians include so many young people, citizens of Nigeria and not citizens of Russia, Dubai or any other country. It was conducted peacefully, some people won while some others lost.
“I want to affirm that Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima’s ticket scored the highest votes as informed to everyone at the National Collation Centre. The votes were counted in Eight millions plus, and was declared winner, having won about 29 states,” the protesters insisted
Edwards further stated that the race for the contest of the National Assembly leadership has started and both LP, PDP and other parties already garvanising, “that’s the right thing to do.
“Our message is very clear, this is one indivisible country and it benefits nobody that the country goes into flame. We have said that elections had been won and lost, on this presidential election Bola Tinubu won clearly.
“Tinubu has called for healing and because he has called for healing we as Natives, people who voted for him have listened to his message. That is why we are here waving our white handkerchiefs which signifies healing. Bola Tinubu is already preparing for May 29th handing over ceremony and because we are all brothers and sisters we know and believe that we can all work together to change our country.
“As far as we are concerned, we are asking the aggrieved people to leave INEC out of their frustration. They lost election and they should be good losers, or go to court if you cannot handle it and wait for the Supreme Court. Do not intimidate the CJN, don’t intimidate the security forces and stop threatening democracy,” he warned.
Responding while receiving a prepared letter addressed to the INEC chairman, the commission’s Director of Security, Lebari Sam Nduh, assured that INEC will continue to do its constitutional roles without bias of favour.
“We want to thank you for being very responsible in your protest. We want to thank you for bearing in mind that we have no other country to call our own than this country. We want to thank you for the civil manner you have conducted yourself.
“We want to assure you, on behalf of the management of INEC that your message will be delivered to the Chairman. It is not going to pass through any other source than the Director of Security himself will personally take it and deliver it to the Honourable Chairman who is my direct boss.
“I assure you that INEC will continue to do its optimum best all what the law ask it to do, that Nigeria will be greater,” Nduh said…… CONTINUE READING
