President Muhammadu Buhari has taken a swipe at those accusing him of masterminding attacks on INEC facilities in the country to secure a third term through the back door.
Critics of the President argue that the attacks on INEC facilities especially in the South-East geopolitical zone were to render the electoral commission incapable of conducting the 2023 election, necessitating the current administration to continue in office.
Buhari spoke Tuesday after meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other electoral commissioners at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
No fewer than 11 INEC offices, 13 vehicles, 429 generators, and other property have been destroyed in over 41 attacks in the last few months, The Punch reported.
Read Also: Constitution Review: Sultan canvasses unrestricted usage of Hijab
There are fears in many quarters that the situation, which Yakubu described as a national emergency, could seriously impair the commission’s ability to conduct the 2023 polls.
However, the president assured that all INEC’s demands would be met to ensure the commission operates efficiently ahead of the polls.
“I receive daily security reports on the attacks on critical national infrastructure, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time.
“I received a briefing today from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the series of attacks on their facilities nationwide. These attacks are totally unacceptable, and we will not allow those behind them to achieve their evil objectives.
“I have assured INEC that we will make available to them everything they need to operate efficiently, so that no one will say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. There will be no excuse for failure. We will meet all of INEC’s demands.
“In the area of security, we have changed the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General, and we are demanding that they rise fully to the challenges confronting us. There must be zero tolerance for all those those bent on destroying our country by promoting crime and insurrection!
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,”
Leave a Reply