Insecurity:Thedarkcloudsover2023generalelections
Amid the shifting grounds and double-speak by political parties over the contentious issue of zoning the Presidency and concerns about the threat level of insurgents and other non state actors, the silent questions on the minds of Nigeria are many: Would it hold? What is the guarantee that the party in power wants to organise elections? How secure would contenders be as they embark on electioneering? What happens if the elections do not hold?
While the national apprehension rages, eminent lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has called for a hold on the planned general elections in the country.
In his well-publicised essay the legal luminary enjoined the Federal Government to suspend the 2023 elections and in its place set up a six-month interim government after President Buhari’s tenure. The senior lawyer went further to explain the composition of the anticipated Government of National Unity (GNU).
Although the eminent lawyer is not known to make political statement, his intervention let off a flurry of reactions. While some kicked at the suggestions, others wondered why he was flying the kite at a time when it was expected that the third leg of Nigeria’s tripod should have a go at the Presidency.
It was obvious that Babalola’s cryptic suggestion for a restart of the statecraft in Nigeria was coming as a response to the tense socio-political situation in the country, which has underscored the two-nations-in-one geo-polity.
Alleging that Babalola’s framework for an interim government and stoppage of 2023 elections was a poor rehash of its position in 2021, the Nigeria Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-determination (NINAS) rejected the proposal.
Secretary to the organisation, Tony Nnadi, said rather than allow President Buhari to serve out the remaining months of his tenure; the period should be used to conduct a referendum on the ethnic nationalities of the country to re-commit to Nigeria.
