Military uncovers plot to cause mayhem - Over presidential tribunal judgment - Tribunal's verdict has vindicated me -Iwu

From Clement Idoko, Idowu Samuel, Bola Badmus and Stephen Gbadamosi - 28.02.2008

THE Military High Command on Wednesday raised the alarm over alleged plans by opposition to disrupt the public peace following the presidential election tribunal’s verdict upholding the election of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Owoye Azazi, who made this known, warned against any such plot by anybody.

Azazi, in a statement in Abuja and signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General M.D Yusuf, said the military was behind President Yar’Adua and would not allow anybody to disrupt the public peace.

He said the army was resolved to ensure that the rule of law and democracy took root in the country, just as he advised anyone aggrieved to seek constitutional means of redress.

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to plans from some quarters to cause disruption following the judgment on the presidential election petitions.

“That is not the right way to go and certainly does not represent the people’s quest for national security.

“Azazi wants to seize the opportunity to assure Nigerians that the military is solidly behind the President. We have seen the rule of law in action and we will do our best to ensure the maintenance of public peace as enshrined in our nation’s constitution.

"Let us all join hands together to assist the President, Commander-in-Chief in moving the country forward to the lofty heights where we want Nigeria to be," a statement from the Defence Headquarters said.

When contacted, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the AC, said the military should name those behind the plot.

He challenged the authorities to expose anyone found masterminding violence over the tribunal judgment and should not spare any person.

All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) also described the accusation as unfounded and a blatant lie.

The party gave the reaction through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emman Eneukwu, who maintained that there was nothing like what the authorities were trying to pain to the whole world.

According to the spokesman of the party, ANPP is not a party known for violence and has never been one of such.

Meanwhile, Action Congress (AC) has rejected an olive branch extended by President Umaru Yar'Adua to the opposition parties, following his victory at the Presidential Election Tribunal, stating that it would never have anything to do with the Yar’Adua administration.

According to Muhammed, the party had long taken the stand to play no part in Yar'Adua's government considering the circumstances of its emergence.

It said the issue of olive branch to the opposition by President Yar'Adua was beyond him (Abubakar Atiku) as a person, stating that the main issue was about deepening democracy and finding a lasting solution to the problem of democracy in Nigeria.

AC, he added, had resolved to champion the struggle for the enthronement of proper democracy in Nigeria.

Alhaji Muhammed stated this in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, stressing that AC would not have contemplated challenging the tribunal's judgment at the Supreme Court if it was inclined towards romancing with Yar'Adua.

He said Yar'Adua should expect more biting but constructive criticism of his administration from AC, explaining that it was only if the government was put on its toes through constructive criticisms that democracy could grow in the country.

Earlier, the former Vice President had told newsmen in Abuja that if the government of President Yar'Adua extended a hand of friendship to him, he would not take a decision on it alone.

He said, "If they offer a hand of friendship to me, I will refer them to the party to take a decision. It is a party affair and I will not be involved."

"Now, our hope is on the Supreme Court because we believe that it would be more interested in the issue of ballot papers which were printed without serial numbers.

"It is interesting to know that even after INEC had admitted printing the ballot papers without serial numbers, the tribunal still went ahead to give such a judgment. There were still other issues in the petition which the Supreme Court will be more interested in,” the AC spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, has said he was satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.

Iwu was among the millions of Nigerians who watched the proceedings of the tribunal outside the country. He was said to have watched the proceedings on Ben TV, based in the United Kingdom.

He said he rejoiced with Nigerians over the ruling, adding that Atiku particularly did not have any case before the tribunal.

“Atiku’s petition had been declared as deficient by the court because criminal allegation was not established against any identified person and because the petitioner ought not to have joined Iwu in his petition as he could not be sued in his private capacity.

“But Buhari, whose petition was the first to be dismissed by the tribunal, was told that his witnesses could not prove allegations of irregularities and that they were defective and inadmissible.

“The winner of the election is none but President Yar’Adua. I don’t believe that Atiku and General Buhari will go to the Supreme Court. Atiku, especially, said he was not included, but he participated in the election,” Iwu said.