FG repudiates calls for interim govt

The Federal Government has dismissed calls for the composition of an
Interim National Government that will be saddled with the organsation
of the general elections.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Mohammed Adoke, (SAN), who explained this in a statement in Abuja on
Thursday, said interim government was alien to the country's
constitution.
Some prominent Nigerians had called for the postponement of the
election and composition of an interim government that would function
for two years and organise general elections.
But in the statement on Thursday, Adoke said that his attention had
been drawn to recent calls in the media by some Nigerians for the
constitution of an Interim National Government to mid-wife a general
election and usher in a new democratic government.
The AGF said he recognised the inalienable right of Nigerians to
freely express themselves and proffer solutions to perceived national
challenges.
He, however, said that that he was concerned that some undiscerning
Nigerians were being "unwittingly led to believe that a certain
prescription, which is totally alien to the constitution, can be
adopted as a viable solution to our national challenges.
"It has, therefore, become necessary to correct this misconception and
refocus the citizenry on the path of constitutionalism and democratic
tenets consistent with our quest for democratic consolidation in
Nigeria.
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"For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state that the framers
of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, did not
envisage the constitution of Interim National Government to
superintend over the affairs of government. It is therefore not
surprising to observe that no provision for Interim National
Government was made in the Constitution."
According to Adoke, the contraption called "Interim National
Government" is alien to Nigeria's constitutional framework and the
arrangement should not be promoted by well-meaning Nigerians under any
guise or circumstance.
"Nigerians are therefore enjoined to continue to rely on the
constitution, which contains adequate provisions on how the democratic
process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time," he
said.
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