The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called on the Department of State Security (DSS) to take immediate proactive measures to prevent any individual or group from scuttling the scheduled handover of the leadership of Nigeria to President-elect, Bola Tinubu and state governors on May 29.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, demanded that the DSS trace and expose the extent of the plot, arrest and prosecute not only the perpetrators but its sponsors, and all individuals or groups linked to it.
The coalition’s demand comes on the heels of reports that the Nigeria Police headquarters confirmed the existence of plots to disrupt the May 29th official inauguration of the new administration, and that the Military High Command warned the plotters to shelve any ideas of scuttling the handover.
The group noted that two weeks earlier, the Defence Headquarters also raised the alarm that some individuals were plotting with foreign collaborators to disrupt the May 29 inauguration and vowed to track them down.
Categorically rejecting any attempts by any individual or group to disrupt the scheduled handover of leadership, the northern group stressed that Nigerians would not accept any situation deliberately caused by vested personal interests that could lead to destruction and collective mayhem or bring about greater conflicts leading to mass killings and suffering of innocent people.
The coalition further demanded that anybody or group found remotely involved with the financing, direct execution or concealing information on the plot be treated appropriately as a treasonable felony and enemy of the state and fellow citizens.
In addition, the group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to limit their searchlight to only outgoing state governors but extend the probe to the Presidency, ministries, parastatals and cabinet members of the outgoing administration.
Finally, the CNG urged the EFCC to conduct a thorough search into allegations against itself and the disabling volume of debt amassed for the country by the outgoing administration.
With these demands, the coalition hopes that the DSS, as well as other security agencies will take necessary actions to ensure that the May 29th handover comes to fruition without any hitches, and Nigerians can finally experience a peaceful transition of power.
