Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Services (SSS), on Wednesday announced that some key players are plotting an unconstitutional interim government for Nigeria, confirming an alarm that had been raised weeks before the general elections.
The agency said it considers the plot as an “aberration and a mischievous” way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crîsis. According to a statement by the SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, the planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, sponsoring endless viol£nt 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,” Mr Afunanya said, adding, the “illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace-loving Nigerians.”
The statement is coming barely a month after the 25 February presidential election that produced Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s next leader. Mr Tinubu was the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some opposition parties have refused to concede defeat.
In its statement, the SSS warned those organising to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their schemes and orchestrations. It urged stakeholders including the judiciary, media and civil society to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert the peace and stability of the nation.
While its monitoring continues, the SSS said it will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against persons with such intentions. The agency said it “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.”
