Soldiers' Presence In South-East, Democracy Under Threat - NADECO Yells

Like Senate President Bukola Saraki, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has stated that the deployment of soldiers with armored tanks to Abia State in the South East is unconstitutional.

It warned that democracy in Nigeria is threatened once again under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

According to NADECO, the invasion without the approvals by appropriate legal authorities was unconstitutional and gradual usurpation of power by the Nigerian Army.

The group argued that the military by that action illegally took over the functions of the National Assembly, the Abia State House of Assembly and the legal authorities.

NADECO’s position on the current issue dominating national discourse was contained in a statement issued by its chairman, Rear Admiral Godwin N. Kanu (Rtd). He insisted that the action of the soldiers was “inconsistent with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and may be the beginning, if not checked, of the unwitting or witting subversion of democracy in Nigeria.”

The statement read in part, “On Sunday 10th of September, 2017, the Nigerian Armed Forces invaded South East Nigeria, and in particular Abia State with a large contingent of soldiers, armored tanks and other military paraphernalia.

“In Abia State, the soldiers invaded communities, tortured civilian population, over-awed the constitutionally elected governor and civil institutions of the state, and declared the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) a terrorist organisation, in defiance of the judgment of the Federal High Court.

“All of these actions are unconstitutional and represent an illegal take-over of the functions of the National Assembly, the Abia State House of Assembly and the legal authorities. We are very troubled by recent national developments and are forced to issue this warning to all our compatriots that democracy is once again under threat in our nation.”

On the buzz word in the country, restructuring, NADECO said all the arguments was nothing but demand for true federalism. The group said that what Nigeria currently operates is an inverted federation which the Military converted Nigeria to.

“It is clear to us that unless Nigerians fully understand and address what is at stake, those who benefit from the continued instability of Nigeria will continue to create confusion and delay Nigeria from achieving its manifest destiny,” the group said.

News Source: - Ripples | September 23, 2017.  

Photo Source: - The Nation | August 19, 2015.