Politics

Council of State Labels Recent Protests as Attempted Regime Change, Endorses Tinubu Administration

Written by Jerry Alomatu on August 14, 2024

News Views: 475

The Council of State, convening for the first time under President Bola Tinubu, has characterized recent protests against bad governance as an attempt to forcibly change the regime. The council also expressed unanimous support for President Tinubu’s administration.

The Council, which includes former Presidents, Heads of State, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), and state governors, endorsed Tinubu’s leadership. Notable attendees included former Presidents Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari and Jonathan participated in the meeting in person, while Gowon and Abubakar joined virtually.

Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr. Dele Alake, briefed journalists after the meeting, stating that the council praised Tinubu for resisting efforts to destabilize the government. Alake reported that the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, updated the council on the security situation, particularly concerning the protests.

Alake described the protests, particularly the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations, as not merely a protest but an attempt to effect a regime change through force. He said, “The Council of State thought that nobody should be allowed to truncate the hard-earned democracy and that any change would be through the ballot box and not by insurrection.”

Alake also noted, “The NSA briefed the council on the security situations and allayed fears all around. After the NSA’s briefing, generally, he allayed everybody’s fears and spoke on the tightness of the security around the country, and also reassured all and sundry that nobody will be allowed to truncate our hard-earned democracy.”

The council affirmed that any change in government must occur through democratic means. Alake emphasized, “Any change of government has to be through the ballots and not through the barrel of the gun or insurrection or any other unconstitutional means, only through the ballot box can any government be changed.”

During the meeting, seven ministers presented updates on economic diversification and other progress. Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, echoed the council’s support, stating, “We, indeed, had a very robust meeting. The high note of the meeting was a unanimous passage of a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces.”

Abdulrazaq added, “Members, especially those of the Nigerian Governors Forum, were satisfied with the presentations by members of the Federal Executive Council, and after that meeting, there was an executive session between members of the Nigerian Governors Forum and the President.”

The Council’s statement reinforces the stance that Nigeria’s democracy must be preserved through legal and democratic processes, ensuring that any political changes occur through elections rather than forceful methods.