PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
Legal icon and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola’s call for an interim administration in lieu of the 2023 polls is a call to anarchy, Imo Gov. Hope Uzodinma has said.
“By May 29, 2023, if there is no elected government, our Constitution has not provided for an interregnum. There should not be a gap; otherwise, you are creating room for anarchy.
“What will be the process of selecting the Interim Government because after May 29, the President may not have constitutional powers to function as a president anymore? So, I don’t think we will decide to abandon our Constitution.
“Constitution is like a Bible. Some of us who are Christians, the Bible is the manager of our faith. So, the Constitution should be the instrument guiding our actions as a country,’’ Uzodinma said.
Persecondnews recalls that Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, had advised the Federal Government at a news conference to suspend the 2023 polls to pave way for a six-month interim government after Buhari’s exit.
According to him, the new people’s Constitution will be able to address insecurity, economic, political and other excruciating ills facing
Nigeria and also provide for part-time legislators and non-executive President.
He suggested that the interim government should comprise all former presidents and vice-presidents, some selected ministers and governors and delegates of prominent professional associations.
Babalola said: “The same constitution has made politics become not only very attractive, but the only lucrative business in Nigeria today.
“What this means is that any election that holds under the present scenario will end up producing transactional and recycled leaders, with no ability to turn things around.’’
The governor told State House correspondents: “If you think there is an opinion that is worthy to be canvassed superior to what is in the Nigerian Constitution, such opinion should be taken to the National Assembly and they will through due process amend our Constitution to factor in such opinions,’’
Uzodinma, who had earlier met with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, advised those who had problems with the 1999 Constitution to approach the National Assembly for amendment.
On the spate of attacks in Imo, Uzodinma claimed that the killings in the state and other parts of Southeast are being sponsored by desperate politicians who are hell-bent to grab power.
He said the death of INEC adhoc staff at a continuous voter’s registration centre in Ihitte Uboma was carried out by frustrated gunmen who had planned to attack the Correctional Facility in Okigwe.
“The incident that happened that involved INEC staff, regrettably INEC was not the target. We had the intelligence that the Correctional Centre was to be attacked by bandits.
“We recorded their conversation and fortified the Correctional Centre for safety. And true to it, the bandits, approaching Okigwe, saw how fortified the place is tried to escaped through Ihitte Uboma and ran into INEC staff when they were doing continuous voters registration. It was out of that anger and frustration that they attacked them.
“You must have heard that two of the bandits have been arrested and are helping the Nigerian police and Imo state government to do a very thorough investigation,’’ the governor said.
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