FG Warns Obi, Baba-Ahmed Against Treason

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, has been warned sternly by the federal government to stop inciting Nigerian to violence.

The federal government also issued the same warning to the Vice presidential candidate of the party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, for allegedly inciting their followers to reject the result of the February 25 presidential election.

Baba-Ahmed has been roundly condemned by not a few Nigerians after he charged President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN to ensure that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the winner of the election is not sworn in as the next president.

The incumbent steps down on May 29, and Tinubu is expected to succeed him as president and commander in chief.

But the LP Vice Presidential candidate said the former Lagos governor has failed to meet the constitutional requirement to be sworn in as president.

According to him, “Section 134 stipulates who should be declared and issued a certificate of return. It is only that candidate that has scored the highest number of votes and at least 25 percent each in at least two-thirds of the states of the federation and the FCT.

“Now, it is very clear that Tinubu does not have 25 percent in the FCT, we denied him. We got 61 percent. Atiku does not have 25 percent in the FCT. We denied both of them.

“By clear and unambiguous provisions of the Nigerian constitution, which must not be breached, Tinubu has not satisfied the requirement to be declared President-elect. Accordingly, there is no President-elect for Nigeria now. Because the declared one violates the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I know what I’m saying.

“Swearing in a ticket that has not met the constitutional requirement is ending democracy. That is indeed the correct interpretation. You cannot swear in people who have not met the constitutional requirement. if you do it, you have done something unlawful and unconstitutional.

“Mr President, do not hold that inauguration. CJN, your lordship, do not participate in unconstitutionality. It is extreme and I’m saying it. It was more extreme for Yakubu to issue that certificate. It was reckless.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the News Agency of Nigeria, NANAs said issued the warning  in Washington DC during his official engagements with international media organisations.

Mohammed said it is wrong for the duo to be trying to hold the nation to ransom because they failed to win the election.

He said Obi and Datti-Ahmed have so far not behaved as true democrats in the manner they are going about their grievances.

The minister said, “Obi and his Vice, Datti Ahmed, cannot be threatening Nigerians that if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn in on May 29, it will be the end of democracy in Nigeria.

“This is treason. You cannot be inviting insurrection, and this is what they are doing.

“Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person, he is not the democrat that he claimed to be. A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins the election.”