Elder statesman and former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has said more than any other person, renowned legal giant, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, should be questioned on issues around call for an interim government.
He also faulted the federal government for going to the United States of America to accuse the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate in the February 25 poll, Mr. Peter Obi, of fanning the ember of resurrection, describing it as an effort in futility.
At the end of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the election, beating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi to second and third place, respectively.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, some political players, particularly from the opposition, were reportedly making some inflammatory remarks allegedly threatening the May 29 handover date.
Although the Department of State Service (DSS) raised the alarm to this effect, it did not however mention names of the alleged masterminds of the planned plot to cause mayhem ahead of the handover date.
Further to the DSS’ alarm, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, had, during a recent visit to the United States of America, accused some politicians, including Obi, of trying to foment trouble in the country over election outcome.
Clark replies minister
But replying the minister in a lengthy and personally signed press statement in Abuja Monday, Clark accused Mohammed of heightening the tension in the land rather than dousing it.
He said the recent media briefing made in the U.S. by Mohammed was wrongheaded for accusing Obi as the brain behind the calls for interim government.
According to him, Peter Obi had not done anything wrong to accuse him of sedition or treasonable felony offence as alleged by the federal government.
According to the Ijaw national leader, Babalola, a famous lawyer, should be questioned on the call for the ING.
What Babalola said
The renowned lawyer had April last year, said the 2023 elections should be suspended, while an interim government should be in office for six months to develop “a new-look peoples’ constitution which should provide for part-time legislators and non-executive president.”
He also proposed that members of the interim government should be selected from previous presidents and vice-presidents, ministers and governors, as well as delegates of prominent professional associations.
He had 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 new constitution should also provide that there shall be no salary, but sitting allowances only for lawmakers. It should provide a true federal system of government, instead of the expensive presidential system of government. I suggest a parliamentary system of government with a unicameral legislature.
“The new constitution should also provide a body at the local, state and federal levels to screen all aspirants on the sources of their wealth and means of livelihood.”
Clark’s position
Speaking on the development, the Ijaw leader said Obi should not be attacked or accused of an offence he never committed.
“Lai Mohammed’s recent sojourn to the United States of America (USA), on the issue of Interim National Government (ING), to damage the reputation of Mr. Peter Obi’s rising profile, to me, is an effort in futility, because Lai Mohammed did not base his accusations on any report or information given by any state agency, but on mere propaganda targeted at destroying the reputation of an innocent citizen.
“If I may continue further, why will the Minister of Information take more than usual interest in not only scandalizing and lying against Peter Obi but using his privileged position to circulate same to the country and entire world.
“If we were to talk further about those who have held strong positions against the current political situation in the country; why has the Minister avoided to take notes of the views of other persons such as our respected elder statesman and colleague, Chief Afe Babalola who as far back as April last year, called for Interim National Government, after the expiration of tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
“Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded presidential elections, has never taken the laws into his hands. He is going about his case, in the constitutionally provided way.
“He was the first to seek redress in court over what he felt was an unfair and unjust manner of conducting elections. It is his constitutional right to do so. Muhammadu Buhari, in the number of times he contested and failed elections, did same.
“We all know that at no time from the beginning of the current political season , did His Excellency Peter Obi the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party make any statement that in whatever manner constituted a breach or threat to the peace and security of this country.
“The question that Lai Mohammed needs to answer is to tell Nigerians on what platform, at what time and in what manner did Peter Obi make the Supposed treasonable or seditious remarks?” he said.
He therefore called on the Minister of Justice and Attorney – General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to establish a prima facie case against Lai Mohammed and drag him to court.
“It is clear therefore that the Minister of Information has constituted himself to become the mastermind and disseminator of fake news.
“This leaves us with no option than to call on the Attorney General of the nation to undertake thorough investigation of the activities of the Minister and charge him to court,” Clark added.
