. . . Asks soldiers to stop killing known good youths instead of cracking down on unknown gunmen in South East

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called for serious investigation to determine the sponsors of the so-called unknown gunmen in the South-East and South-South.

It noted that the agenda may be tenure elongation as a result of eventual state of emergency that may be declared by President Muhammadu Buhari.

HURIWA also condemned the reported use of extra-legal killings of innocent Igbo youths following the discovery of 33 unidentified corpses at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

The rights group said it was unconstitutional for soldiers and police to kill innocent youngsters whilst they are supposed to go after the so-called unknown gunmen and arrest them to enable proper prosecution to take place and restore normalcy to the region.

“We are worried by the reports of killings of many innocent young people by the soldiers and police whereas the real unknown gunmen are actually seen operating unhindered which goes to show that the activities of these attackers may be the handiwork of enemies of the South-East and persons who are working for key persons in the central government to create chaos and anarchy to guarantee the postponement of the year 2023 general elections, which will automatically transmit to a tenure elongation of President Buhari’s administration,” HURIWA alleged.

The rights group therefore called for an independent investigation by a high-powered judicial commission of inquiry going by the fact that if the destruction of the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and police facilities continues in the South-East or South-South then the central government could opt for self perpetuation in government through tenure extension relying on section 135 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 as amended.

HURIWA expressed profound concern that the lawless and chaotic situations deteriorating to a near state of anarchy could be the handiwork of members of the deep state in Abuja who are working in collusion with the Federal Government so as to undermine peace in the South-East and South-South so as to create a perfect situation for tenure elongation.

The rights group said it is possible that the officials of the INEC and security forces are part of the scheme because there is evidence that no actions have been taken to protect these strategic national assets.

HURIWA therefore challenged the hierarchies of both the electoral umpire and the Armed Forces of Nigeria to show Nigerians that they are not part of the larger conspiracy to undermine the 2023 presidential poll so as to guarantee tenure extension for the current occupant of the office of President.

According to HURIWA, “It’s possible that the government of the day, with a lot of skeletons in their cupboards such as colossal corruption and economic crimes involving top cabinet officials and some associates of the President, may not be in a hurry to honourably quit office at the end of their second and final term and given that the current leadership of the National Assembly are made up of stooges of the Executive arm of government.

“It is very possible that there is an active plot to stir up crises or fail to quash or combat lawfully emerging crises in any part of the country so as to fall back on these chaotic situations as perfect alibi to extend the period of office of the holder of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Nigerians must be vigilant and never get involved in causing any artificial or political insurrection that can be adduced as a reason for the President to extend his tenure even for one hour. We call on all aggrieved groups, including self-determination campaigners in all parts of Nigeria not to let themselves be the agents that would be used to cause postponement of the 2023 presidential poll because allowing President Buhari to stay a day longer than he should could lead to civil war which all Nigerians must guide against.

“So, Nigerians will have the opportunity to restructure Nigeria after the departure of President Buhari who has sworn never to allow for restructuring or wholistic reforms of Nigeria to make it work for all citizens and guarantee equity and equality of rights.”

HURIWA therefore urged officials of INEC and the security forces on the need to demonstrate to Nigerians that they are not part of the larger plots for tenure extension of President Buhari’s second term because rather than implement security and proactive actions to stave off the attacks, the INEC reappointed Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is simplistically warning that the 2023 elections are threatened by destruction of its assets.

“We are challenging the Chairman of INEC to partner with security forces to protect their strategic national assets in all parts of Nigeria and to stop making up excuses for the electoral panel to cancel the 2023 poll just so it can benefit the current President Buhari who rewarded them with second term in office as hierarchy of INEC.

“By the way, INEC conducted elections in Yobe and Borno State’s amidst Boko Haram terrorist attacks. Why is INEC already raising alarm that 2023 poll may be marred? INEC must not be allowed to push Nigeria into a state of civil war.”

HURIWA expressed concern that the attacks on offices of INEC and burning of election materials that have been stepped up in the last two months, especially in the South-South and South-East states may be well-coordinated plots to ensure that the 2023 election is postponed so the incumbent President gets a tenure extension.

HURIWA called on Nigerians to reject the plots it believed is aimed at tenure extension.

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