Edo: Atiku Reacts, Warns Against Breakdown Of Constitutional Order In Nigeria

Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned against a constitutional breakdown in the country.

Atiku said this on Thursday in a reaction to the political developments in Edo State.

Naija News recalls the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly on Thursday witnessed an unusual presence of heavily armed Police operatives.

The security officials led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Ayoola Ajala stormed the complex while patrol vehicles were stationed around the area.

The move is believed to be to forestall an alleged planned attack on the facility over some political disagreements in the state.

Later in the day, some members of the Edo State House of Assembly elected Victor Edoror as the Speaker of the Assembly.

This follows their impeachment of Frank Okiye as the Speaker of the House. The lawmakers who carried out the act conducted plenary at an undisclosed location in the state.

Edoror’s appointment as Speaker is coming months after Frank Okiye was inaugurated as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly by Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki.

However, Mr Okiye in his reaction on Thursday described his removal as speaker of the house as a non-issue.

Both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have been trading claims and counterclaims on the issues in Edo State.

Atiku while reacting to the developments in Edo State via a statement on his Twitter page on Thursday, called for restraint and warned that the already tense political atmosphere in Nigeria must not be allowed to escalate further.

He also noted that the people of Edo State be allowed to choose their leader without any external interference in the scheduled September 19 governorship polls in the state. In the meantime, he advised that status quo be maintained and peace be allowed to reign.

He wrote:

“Nigeria has been on the edge due to the brinkmanship of those charged with the constitutional leadership. We must, as a nation, not escalate the already tense atmosphere in our polity.

“What is happening in Edo State is a threat to constitutional order nationwide, and I strongly urge belligerent forces to reign in their proxies, and abide by the rule of law.”

“As I have previously said, without the rule of law, there will be no rule at all. The current goings-on portend grave danger, not only to law and order in that state, but to the coming Edo elections.”

“The people of Edo state should be allowed to choose who they wish to govern them, and that choice is to be made on September 19, 2020. Pending then, everything legally possible must be done to preserve the status quo.”