In a resolute stand against any potential threats to the upcoming presidential inauguration, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has assured the nation of the readiness of the Nigerian police force to confront and neutralize any individuals or groups plotting to scuttle the event.
As the country eagerly awaits the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29, the police chief’s warning serves as a stern message to those who may seek to disrupt the democratic process, News About Nigeria reports.
Addressing the press at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector-General emphasized the determination of the security agencies to protect democracy and maintain national security.
He sternly cautioned political actors with subversion agendas, particularly their foot soldiers, who are exposed to radicalization and extremism, to abandon any ongoing plots aimed at creating tension and derailing the presidential inauguration.
“The Nigeria Police hereby sternly warns all political actors with subversion agenda and their collaborators, particularly, their foot soldiers who they are exposing to political radicalization and extremism to, henceforth, jettison their ongoing premeditated attempts to create tension within the national space with the intention of derailing the May 29, 2023, Presidential Inauguration Ceremony,” stated the Inspector-General.
The police chief encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to ensure appropriate law enforcement responses. He urged the public to resist the manipulative tactics of political elements seeking to exploit their passions for personal gains and unconstitutional objectives.
Stressing the police force’s commitment to maintaining internal security and defending democracy, he assured the citizens that adequate assets have been acquired to guarantee their protection during the inauguration ceremonies.
The Inspector-General’s resolute stance comes as the Defense Headquarters, in conjunction with the police, issued a warning to dissident groups earlier, reiterating their commitment to crushing any threats to the transition program and, by extension, to democracy in Nigeria.
The military, through the Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, expressed solidarity with the earlier warning issued by the police, further emphasizing the ongoing preparations for the inauguration ceremony.
While the security agencies stand firm in their determination to safeguard the democratic process, a Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Thursday as the hearing date for a suit seeking to halt Tinubu’s inauguration.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, has called on the applicants to provide evidence of their legal standing and jurisdiction, as well as any potential overlap with matters before the presidential elections court.
As the legal battle unfolds, Nigerians are hopeful that the judiciary will make a fair and impartial decision regarding the inauguration. In the meantime, the collective resolve of the police and military to ensure the peaceful conduct of the presidential inauguration remains unwavering.
