Why Nigerian Army Should Disregard Buhari’s Orders – SDP

The Nigerian Army and other security operatives have been urged to disregard instructions by President Muhammadu Buhari’s to shoot ballot box snatchers.

Social Democratic Party (SDP), through its National Chairman, Chief Supo Shonibare gave the directive, saying the president’s directive was contrary to the nation’s extant law.

Shonibare told the security men that they would face the consequences of extra-judicial killing cases that would be levelled against them alone.

He added that by then, the President would have been voted out in next Saturday’s presidential election, would not be available to defend them.

“Let me advise the security men that they should not obey the president’s order that they shoot at any ballot box snatchers because they are no such law yet in our constitution.

“Our constitution says anyone accused malfeasance is innocent until proven guilty. Any security personnel who does an illegal act is on his own. He will be responsible for shooting someone who was not taken to court.

“They should know that Executive is an arm of government and not a government on its own. So if they kill people because of the president’s order, they will be made to bear the brunt of their actions themselves.

The president, who would be leaving power by May 29, after he’s voted out in Saturday’s election will not be there to defend them, that is what they must know,” he said after he was asked by newsmen to comment on the controversial order.

Shonibare said his party condemned in strong terms, the postponement of the forthcoming general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying the timing and reasons adduced by the nation’s electoral umpire for rescheduling the general elections were not tenable.

“The SDP in an assessment of the postponement’s exponential cost to Nigerians and political actors considers INEC’s decision as parochial, insensitive and capable of creating voter apathy that may further diminish voter turnout on election day,” he said.

Shonibare said:“The Social Democratic Party strongly urges INEC to engage all critical national, foreign and election stakeholders in its pre-election and post-election processes in an open and transparent atmosphere in attestation that the election processes are credible, free, fair and peaceful, as democratic governance and the future of our cherished country hangs in the balance.”

The party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of shedding what it called “crocodile tears” when, according to SDP, it was behind the postponement of the elections.

“You may recall that in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, the APC was loud in expressing resentment at the postponement of the elections. Yet, it may interest you to note that, though the 2015 general election was not shifted on election day or just a few hours to the opening of polls and commencement of voting, now that it is in government, the APC is ironically crying foul and shedding crocodile tears.

“They refused to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act into law, jettison the Senator Ken Nnamani’s Electoral Reform Report, conducted vote trading and litigation-filled elections in Edo, Ekiti, Osun and other bye-elections across the country.

“Propaganda can only take you so far because the art of governance requires capacity, competence, compassion, and courage, which is obviously lacking in this APC led administration, as acknowledged by the majority of Nigerians,” Shonibare added.

Speaking on the adoption of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Shonibare explained that the SDP “acted in consonance with an agreement reached among the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP’s, members and within its powers to give effect to the yearnings and aspirations of party leaders and members.

“The adoption was premised on the fact that after a careful study and assessment of the leading presidential candidates, the plans of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar we’re closely interrelated to the principles and manifesto of the SDP, particularly with regards to the desire of Nigerians for restructuring,” he explained.

He added:”May we also say for the avoidance of doubt, that the Social Democratic Party also took this position in response to the outcry of millions of Nigerians who desire a change in our country’s national leadership and the coming together of political forces to ensure the nation is rescued from hunger, maladministration, nepotism, and quasi-dictatorship.”

He enjoined electorate to come out en masse on Saturday to vote out President Mohammadu Buhari and the APC.

“The SDP wishes to call on all eligible PVC carrying electorates across not to be deterred by their antics and come out en masse on election day and vote this failed government. We owe it as a duty to ourselves, our families and unborn generations not to change “into the” next level” of hunger, poverty, unemployment and undemocratic tenents, but to vote for a well ‘Articulated; a leader who will bring succour and prosperity to our people,” Shonibare said.