The spokesman for the Department of State Services (DSS), Peter Afunanya, has confirmed the commitment of his organisation to a seamless inuaguration of a new government on May 29, 2023 despite the agenda of some individuals calling for an interim government.
An Interim Government is an emergency government authority set up to manage a political transition, sometimes in the case of a newly formed country or following the collapse of a previous administration.
The last time Nigeria had an Interim Government in power was about 30 years ago and it lasted for 82 days.
The last and only interim government Nigeria ever had was arising from the anulment of the 12th June 1993 presidential election, which was won by Moshood Abiola and annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida.
Soon after the crisis seemed to have abated a bit General Babangida handed power over to Ernest Shonekan as interim Head of State on 27 August 1993.
Shonekan’s government was adjudged largely as “powerless” and was dissolved when General Sani Abacha seized power on 17 November 1993.
Giving details of the discovery of the plot on Wednesday, Afunnaya disclosed that the Service considers the plot , being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.
Afunnaya declared : ” The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace loving Nigerians”.
Another approach is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.
Putting the stakeholders at alert, he said : ”As the plot thickens, stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, the media and the Civil Society are urged to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the country.”
The DSS says it supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction.
The Service also states that it supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States, adding that it will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023
