Coup alert: Presidency fingers religious, past political leaders

“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership’’

“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil’’

Nigeria’s Presidency has breathed a tinge of insurrection into the polity following a statement by the Department of State Services (DSS) alleging sinister moves by misguided elements to sack the government.

The Buhari administration on Tuesday alleged that the “misguided elements and agent provocateurs’’ are plotting a coup d’etat.

According to a statement by the president’s media adviser, Mr Femi Adesina, it is being championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders.

He said:“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.

“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil.

“The caterwauling, in recent times, by these elements, is to prepare the grounds adequately for their ignoble intentions, which are designed to cause further grief for the country.

“The agent provocateurs hope to achieve through artifice and sleight of hands, what they failed to do through the ballot box in the 2019 elections.

READ ALSO: High-Level Meeting on Security: Buhari Meets with Service Chiefs

“Nigerians have opted for democratic rule, and the only accepted way to change a democratically elected government is through elections, which hold at prescribed times in the country.

“Any other way is patently illegal, and even treasonable. Of course, such would attract the necessary consequences.’’

Adesina said the “discredited individuals and groups are also in cahoots with external forces to cause maximum damage in their own country’’.

“But the Presidency, already vested with mandate and authority by Nigerians till 2023, pledges to keep the country together, even if some unruly feathers would be ruffled in the process.’’