Linus Aleke and Cross Udo, Abuja
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said that the idea of an Interim National Government (ING) is alien to our body of law and therefore, unconstitutional.

The branding came as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP, Enugu East), berated those involved in the plot to put in place an ING, as part of moves to truncate the nation’s democracy.

The Director of Defence Media Operation, Maj-Gen Musa Danmadami, said this while fielding questions from defence correspondents, during the biweekly briefing at Defence Headquarters (DHQ), in Abuja.

While appealing to reporters not to drag the military into partisan politics, Danmadami said that those calling for an Interim National Government are mischievous.

The appeal came amid calls by some politicians for an interim government, which if successfully pushed, will prevent the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on 29 May.

Candidates of some opposition parties, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), are currently challenging Tinubu’s victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 25 February election, polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku, who polled 6,984,520 votes, while Obi got 6,101,533 votes.

However, Danmadami noted that the military has no hand in the ING, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had conducted an election and a winner declared.

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*’Those advocating for ING are trying to be mischievous’

He said that the law of the land only recognises the president-elect.

“On the issue of an interim government, it is rather unfortunate. An election has been conducted and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is mandated has announced a president-elect.

“It is not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made from the Presidency that there is nothing like an interim national government. So, I think people were just trying to be mischievous. It is unconstitutional and all of us know that.

“The constitution does not provide for an interim national government and that is the point the Presidency has been hammering on and that is our stand. It is unconstitutional so anything unconstitutional as far as I am concerned is not applicable,” Danmadami said.

Responding to a question on why there is a resurgence of kidnapping and other criminalities across the country, the military spokesperson said that the military alone cannot bring insecurity to a halt in Nigeria.

He called on the public to support the military and other security agencies to continue to deny criminal elements in the country freedom of action.

He, however, said that the military is not resting on its oars in ensuring that the country is safe.

He said the military and other security agencies are working round the clock to crumble the empire of insecurity in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Senator Nnamani said the idea of ING was not only treason-able but constitutes an affront to the sensibility of Nigerians.

Nnamani vowed that the president-elect, Tinubu, will be sworn in on May 29th and would hit the ground running, adding.

In a statement yesterday, the former governor of Enugu State described ING as absurd, adding that it has no place in modern-day democratic rule.

He also submitted that those behind the plot are the enemies of Nigeria.

Nnamani said, “The presidential election has been conducted and a winner has been declared. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be sworn in as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2023. The ING is a needless distraction.”

Nnamani stressed that he believes that Tinubu will not deviate from his avowed commitment to the programmes of social protection, national transformation, and restructuring.

The senator, a contemporary of Tinubu as governor in the 1999 set, is optimistic that a Tinubu-led administration will address the challenges of critical infrastructural development, youth Unemployment, and youth bulge, women empowerment, as well as the issue of the girl-child.

He predicted that a Tinubu-led government will give priority to budget enhancements needed to address complex issues in the health, education, and social service sectors, including potable drinking water and environmental sanitation.

Nnamani also expressed optimism that the forthcoming administration will rejuvenate international recognition and awareness that will attract other nations to invest in Nigeria, and consequently, turn the nation’s economy around.

The senator, therefore, enjoined Nigerians across the divide to support the incoming administration which he hopes will be a government of national unity where no section of Nigeria will be marginalised or short-changed in the scheme of things.

*Democracy, not coup, best option for Africa, says Buhari

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday said despite the rash of military coups in Africa, democracy remained the best form of government.

Buhari stated this when he hosted the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, Dr Eustaquio Januario Quibato, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, recalled the role Nigeria played in the liberation of Angola, noting that the country uses its size and resources to help sister African nations as much as possible.

He said despite the rash of military coups in some parts of the continent, “democracy is still the best option.”

Quibato thanked the President for the “wise leadership you’ve been giving to Nigeria,” for being the Champion of Anti-Corruption in Africa, and for degrading the Boko Haram insurgency group.

The outgoing Ambassador also lauded Buhari for repositioning the Nigerian economy to be less import dependent.

In another audience, Buhari received the outgoing Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dr Fahad Obaid Al Taffaq, saying he was quite glad that Nigeria made a good impression on him, as he stated in his remarks.

Recalling that he had been well received anytime he visited UAE, the President assured that the two countries would continue to improve on their relationship, “as we have so much in common.”

Taffaq equally pledged that the two countries would continue to work “on the details of our relationship,” adding that he made lots of friends in government, the private sector, and civil society, during his five-year stay.

He said he travelled extensively in Nigeria and had come to understand the diversity and culture of the people.

“I am leaving with beautiful memories. I will continue to be close to Nigeria in different capacities,” the Ambassador promised.