Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised the alarm about the alleged plot by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The allegations concern an alleged plot to foment conflict in Niger in order to create a pretext for imposing a state of emergency in Nigeria.
Frank claims that this will lead to the suspension of the ongoing proceedings of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).
In a statement from Abuja, Frank said that President Tinubu is using his position as Chairman of ECOWAS to justify his controversial election victory in Nigeria. Frank continued that Tinubu’s aggressive stance towards Niger serves his own interests as he is trying to use it to gain political capital, raise the profile of his administration and gain international recognition for his presidency.
Frank’s statement said: “It is clear to careful observers that Tinubu is considering a scenario that could lead to war in Niger. This, in turn, could give him an excuse to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria and thus stop the ongoing sessions of the presidential election tribunal.”
“He seems less interested in promoting democracy in the Republic of Niger and more interested in using the situation to legitimize his own government and gain approval from his Western allies. Niger citizens should be allowed to take care of their internal affairs, as Nigeria is already struggling with its own challenges,” Frank said.
Frank also criticized ECOWAS heads of state and government for failing to strengthen democratic practice in the region by ensuring good governance. He underlined their tendency to remain silent when presidents illegally usurp electoral mandates and manipulate constitutional provisions to extend their term of office.
“It is shameful that ECOWAS presidents always come back to life when another president is deposed, which is the current situation in the Republic of Niger,” he said.
He added: “I condemn the coup in Niger and support all selfless efforts to restore democratic rule in the country. However, I reject Tinubu’s attempt to use the coup in Niger as a pretext to undermine the ongoing judicial process to determine the real winner of the presidential elections on February 25, 2023.
“I call on well-meaning Nigerians to desist from Tinubu’s desire to lead the country into an unnecessary war that will, among other things, cause heavy losses to our armed forces and create more widows on top of what Boko Haram, bandits, and other criminal elements have already done,” he said.
According to Frank, former President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired army general, refrained from intervening militarily during the coups in Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali because he was fully aware of their far-reaching consequences. Frank then wondered why Tinubu was so keen to follow the path of war, “if only to maintain his grip on the presidency”.
Source: Vanguard
Healthmedical (
)
