The
Presidency also praised Nigerians for rising against the chaotic rout of
protesters assembled at the Unity Fountain demanding the return of President
Buhari, dismissing such demands as unlawful.
Addressing
members of the Center for Civil Society and Justice, CCSJ, a civil society
coalition who staged a rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari at the
precincts of the Aso Rock Villa on Thursday, the Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu dismissed the the "return
or resign" agitation as an illegal assembly stealthily organized to
deliver a body blow to the war against corruption.
"It
might be taken for granted that the beneficiaries of the old order are fighting
back. We have been warned that corruption will fight back. In a country where
just one woman for having the opportunity to serve as a minister has N47.2
billion and 487.5 million Dollars of public resources in cash and property
traced to her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, you don't
expect the beneficiaries of that order to allow the Buhari administration some
peace. They want to distract us. But what the Presidency wants to assure
patriotic citizens is that the government will not bend."
"As far
the President is concerned, he has done the needful by handing the reins of
authority to the Vice President. Since the law of the country does not give a
time limit for the President's return, it cannot be imposed by a saber-rattling
musician."
Garba Shehu
The
Presidential spokesman commended the CCSJ for being orderly in their
demonstration and urged them to shun all provocations by opponents of the
government.
"By
divine intervention, Muhammadu Buhari
unexpectedly got elected with the ostensible mandate of reversing national
decline and securing its future. He got into the Villa through democratic
victory at the election. Anybody desiring to replace him, whether you are a
wrestler, a hairdresser or a musician, you should go through that process. In a
democracy, threats don't work."
Speaking on
behalf of the demonstrators, the convener, Comrade Prince Goodluck Obi said his
group has "absolute faith and trust in President Buhari's administration
not machinations of corruption and destabilization.
" We
are saying from today, 10th August 2017, we will be holding a rally/protest
march here at Unity Fountain for the next one month and beyond in order to send
clear and unambiguous message to agents of chaos and unity, that Nigerians are
solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari's administration based on our
democratic mandate entrusted to him on 28th March 2015."
GARBA SHEHU
SSAP MEDIA
AND PUBLICITY
ABUJA.
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