The presidency has, in a veiled reference to renewed agitations for restructuring of Nigeria, said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would not be intimidated into making any hasty decision over the matter, claiming that the country’s enemies were actively sponsoring discord in the polity.
In two separate statements, the presidency said Buhari would not be pressured to make any decision that would not be in the interest of the nation, making it clear that the president would only work with the legislature on issues of national concerns.
“The presidency responds to the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the president to do one thing or another or else, in their language, “the nation will break up,” it said in a terse statement last night by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
Adding firmly: “This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the Covid-19 health crisis.”
According to the statement: “Repeat: this administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the president’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of a health crisis. “The president as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”
Earlier, in another statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the presidency claimed that the enemies of the country are sponsoring and encouraging discord and anarchy against the government for either selfish ends or as revenge for perceived injuries. It warned Nigerians to beware of such persons, saying that the Buhari-led government was only interested in engendering better quality of life for the citizenry.
It claimed that some opposition elements against the government had wanted to hide under the botched planned strike by organised labour to attack the Buhari administration. It, however, noted that some people were disappointed that the organised labour followed the part of honour by suspending the strike over the increase in prices of petrol and electricity tariff.
ABIA ONLINE gathered that there have been renewed agitations for the country to be restructured to avoid its break-up, with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, joining the fray at the weekend.