Date Published: 01/13/10

Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation

93, Market Road, First Floor (Back)

Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

E-mail: hrjpfoundation@yahoo.com

Tel: +234 (0) 803 505 6312

January 11, 2010

Press Release

CALL FOR INTERIM NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION (INA:) INVITATION TO VIOLENCE

The attention of the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) has been drawn to calls by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, a chieftain of the Nigerians United for Democracy ((NUD), for an “Interim National Administration (INA) of honourable patriots” to be headed by the President of the Senate or the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

According to Dr. Braithwaite, the INA will entrench a genuine democracy that will “…dismantle all power blocs of corruption in the land to make it a nation governed by law, justice and fear of God, instead of the present rule by criminals.”

While we appreciate the need for a Nigeria where all forms of corruption – electoral, political, financial and judicial – are relics of the past; we are compelled to ask: Who are the honourable patriots that will constitute the INA? Are they angels from above or members of the Nigerian political class? What is the pedigree of the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark? And what is the guarantee that, with the INA we will realize the above goals?

It is our studied opinion that, since the honourable patriots are not heavenly expatriates; that is, angels sent from above, and considering that the President of the Senate has a pedigree of legislative failure; there is no guarantee that the INA will salvage our country from sinking into ubiquitous gloom. Rather, the INA will encourage the elevation of arbitrariness above the Law, thus fueling the embers of existing disunity in the Nigerian union.

According, we state as follows:

1.. That the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, remains the supreme Law of the Land, until we decide otherwise probably using people's power or other non-violent means;

2.  That since we are in a democracy, although on false foot, we must insist on the observance of the Rule of Law, which detracts from the use of discretion in addressing national problems; and

3. That whatever government, including INA that does not follow the due process of the Law in emerging is illegitimate and unacceptable to the Nigerian people.

Otherwise the Nigerian people, particularly members of the pro-democracy community owe apologies to former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha for crossing swords with his administration, which elevated arbitrariness above the Law; only to turn around to support the enthronement of an illegitimate government? In that case, we may have to send Abacha a letter of apology. But who will deliver it to him? Can Dr. Tunji Braithwaite volunteer?

Aluta continua…

Comrade Chidi Nwosu

President