By Abubakar Yunusa
Ahead of the National Assembly election, Coalition for Northern Group (CNG) has warned President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to respect rule of law, urging him to stop the ploy to intimidate anyone for exercising his rights to vote and be voted for.
The group said it understands that the sinister plot also extends to aspirants to positions in the House of Representatives who are targeted for undue harassment and intimidation.
CNG said it is particularly worried by its conviction that these elements are hatching these evil plans without the consent of the President, with the sole aim of pitching him against the larger northern interest.
CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement signed and shared with journalists yesterday, said “We are calling on President to move quickly as a renowned democrat and respecter of the rule of law to stop the ploy to intimidate anyone for exercising his right to vote and be voted for.
“As concerned northerners and well wishers of Mr President, we feel dutybound to once again draw his attention to this brewing plot and to call on him to move quickly and reassert his commitment to good, impartial governce to halt this sinister plot that potentially airms to set him up against particularly the North.
“We are sure Mr President cannot afford to allow anybody no matter who, to cause any form of misunderstanding between him and the North, where he enjoys solid support and genuine friendship.
“This plot as widely speculated, involves the introduction of a suspicious electronic voting system in the process meant to track the pattern of voting in the National Assembly.
“We are also aware of growing worries over plans to block lawmakers-elect opposed to the Senate Presidency’s ambition of Godswill Akpabio from gaining access to the National Assembly on the day of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
“The statement partly read “CNG is, without the slightest doubt, convinced that by his democratic antecedents and abiding faith in the rule of law and sanctity enfranchisement, Mr President shall never be party to any conduct that tends to impeach anybody’s right to personal liberty and freedom from harassment.
“This realization and other manifestations of evil being perpetrated by some unscrupulous political merchants, who pose as his friends, are the reasons why from the onset, CNG cautioned the President against the antics of desperate political dealers with very negative intentions by allowing the legislators to freely and fairly produce their leaders.
“It would be difficult not to remember that northern votes overwhelmingly went to President Tinubu and the APC to comprehensively ensure their victory at the polls.
“Finally, we reiterate our earlier advice for the President not to interfere in the leadership selection process of the National Assembly, which is the sole prerogative of the elected legislators, and to alert him that those undertaking this insane scheme are not his friends; they are people who will not want to see him succeed”.
