Fear As Calls For Interim Govt Gain Momentum; Okotie Joins Babalola, Clarke, Others Calling For ING

By James Orji

 

Activist Pastor of the House of God Church, Chris Okotie, has joined prominent Nigerians calling for an Interim National government to replace President Muhamamdu Buhari’s administration whose tenure expires next year.

Okotie, who spoke in Lagos yesterday, said the  Presidential system of Government has failed, and should be jettisoned for the good of Nigerians.

He had contested for the office of the  President three times but failed. Several times in his comments on national issues, Okotie claimed that he has the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

The controversial Pastor spoke barely three months after renowned legal luminary, Afe Babalola also called for the installation of interim government after the exit of Buhari in 2023.

Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said the country has been damaged beyond repair, adding that the solution is to install a temporary Government that would usher in a new Government after the conduct of a Constitutional confab.

“As soon as the President, the present Government completes its term, do not hold a new election,” he proposed. “Rather let us have an Interim Government for a short period to discuss a new Constitution. This will consist of all retired Presidents, Vice Presidents, Governors, and some selected people,” Babalola said in April.

On his part, Roberts Clarke, SAN, an elder statesman, a couple of months ago, also called for the extension of President Buhari’s tenure for six months saying that the current situation in the country is not conducive enough to conduct a fresh election next year.

According to Clarke, “If the situation in which we are in now continues and it is impossible to vote in the 2023 election, the Constitution says the President will inform the INEC.

“In view of all insurgencies, kidnappings, Boko Haram, I don’t think in these different areas of Nigeria, we can have a good election.

“I don’t see how what is happening today can be stopped within six months from today or before February next year when the elections will be held,” he said.

“The alternative is for Mr President to continue, allow the security watchers to carry up the mopping up and Nigeria will become stable.”

Many Nigerians have, however, dismissed the call for an ING, warning that such is capable of throwing the nation into a serious political crisis.

Speaking during a Church service in his Church Okotie said the Interim Government will bring reconciliation and reconstruction.

As the Head of the Interim Government, the Pastor said he will jettison the legislative arm of Government and empower voluntary organisations who will directly work with the people.

Okotie said: “The Presidential system has failed this country and we need to do something before the country goes extinct.

“We need to do away with the Legislature. It costs us billions to maintain that structure. There are 469 people in the lower and upper chambers representing the whole of Nigeria.

“This Committee they are evolving had already been done in our society. That Association in Abuja the people already have it. People don’t even understand the history of healthcare in our society.

“Expunge the Legislature from our Constitution and empower the Unions like the NUT, ASUU, NMA others to participate in the legislative process.

“They already have the structures. When you do, there would be so elements that. They have more knowledge and understanding of the challenges that face people.

“If we do that, we would have solved one of the problems. When we expunge the legislatures, it means we don’t need political parties. If we do not have the encumbrance of that legislature and people taking over the activities, there will be no need to spend much money.

“This justifies the tenets of democracy. Our democracy had been hijacked a long time ago by what I called elitism, mysticism and satanism,” Okotie said.

In 1993 former Military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, set up an ING headed by late Chief Ernest Shonekan, who was later ousted by General SanIni Abacha.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has dismissed calls for an Interim Government, saying he is prepared to leave when his eight year tenure expires in May 29, 2023.