Nigeria’s Presidency has challenged those that are operating behind the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, whose members are planning to stage a revolution march tomorrow, Monday 5th August, to show their faces.
“Those making the revolution call hide behind the veil of social media modernity. But without revealing the identity of their sponsors this shadowy campaign is no better, and no more democratic, than the days of old.
“The President calls on all those who seek to use and hide behind everyday citizens to attain power through undemocratic and violent means, which has been alluded, to come out clearly and be identified. They should lead their march in person. Only then will they begin to have the right to call themselves leaders before the people of Nigeria.”
A statement today, August 4, by senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, emphasized that the organization championing this planned action is not fronted by any serious public faces.
He called on the sponsors and organizers to have the decency “to come forward and make their identity known – out of respect to all Nigerians – so that Nigerians can be fully aware in whose name this “revolution” is being proposed and who the beneficiaries may be.”
He reminded the faceless group that there is a difference between peaceful call to protest and incitement for a revolution.
He made it clear that the government of Muhammadu Buhari respects and upholds the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest and civil campaign– whether to raise awareness on issues, and even oppose the government.
“It is the inalienable right of all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do so.”
He recalled that Nigeria held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections less than six months ago, saying that both contests were won resoundingly by Presiden Buhari and his All-Progressives Congress party (APC).
“The campaign was observed, and results were confirmed by international election monitoring groups and observers. The result was even contested by the losing presidential candidate and his party in Court.
“The ballot box is the only constitutional means of changing government and a president in Nigeria. The days of coups and revolutions are over.
Garba Shehu also criticized supposedly respected Nigerians for supporting the call for revolution.
He referred to Professor Wole Soyinka, who had been one of the critics of government when things were going wrongly with law and order in the country.
“They say the police are not doing their work. They raise their voices, asking that “the culprits to be booked and expeditiously punished in the most severe manner.”
“The police under a new leadership is now rising to the occasion, saying “we cannot take any more atrocities against the law in our country and they are saying don’t do anything. They are calling out President Buhari and comparing him to autocratic leaders.” This is an unpardonable blackmail that cannot stop Police and other law enforcement agencies from doing their work.
“A Nigerian is by right empowered to call for a change of government using constitutional means; to protest peacefully against government policies and decisions. But to call for the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government and president and worse – were those calling for it to attempt to do so – is not acceptable under any law in Nigeria. Violence will ever be accepted again as a way to change governments in this country. Those days are gone.
“Nigeria has a well-crafted Constitution and elaborate laws governing elections that guide an orderly succession in government. We have a judicial system that actively serves as a watchdog of the people’s rights.
“Yet, we are daily witnesses to obscene display of delight in the killing of our soldiers and policemen, an open contempt for the country’s laws and its people, accompanied by loud cheers from the so-called New Media. Is this the way to grow a country?”
