By Uche Amunike
President Bola Tinubu has Been greatly criticized for the warning he gave to the members of the Presidential Election Tribunal Concerning the possibility of a breakdown of law and order in Nigeria if he is removed as President.
He admitted that the fact that he failed to garner 25% of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was not enough to warrant overturning his victory, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Recall that while delivering the final defense statement to the Presidential Election Tribunal Court, against the petition, the Wale Olanipekun-led legal team of President Bola Tinubu stated that the FCT remained the 37th state for electoral purposes. He maintained that the petition was new and not familiar with the country’s electoral laws and further submitted thus: ‘Any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and alteration of the very intention of the legislature.’
Ever since this statement was made, with the word ‘anarchy’, trending on Twitter, Nigerians have greatly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s lawyer for his inciting submission.
Popular activist, Aisha Yesufu tweeted: ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the main chaos and anarchy Nigeria currently has. Disqualifying him will restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process in particular and the Nation in general.’
Another Twitter user, Babatunde Gbadamosi, in his tweet, said: ‘Dear Nigerians, Since Tinubu is threatening us with chaos and anarchy, should the judiciary invoke the constitution to chuck him out of the Presidency he stole, I advise the following: Take your fitness EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY. Whether you’re a man, woman, young or old, Start training from today like you’re going to war because you are. Ignore any statements from the security agencies telling you to stay calm and prepare for war.’
On his part, a user in the law profession, @MalcomInfiniti tweeted: ‘Tinubu warning the Tribunal that his removal as president may trigger anarchy is a threat and blackmail of the judiciary. When the election was rigged, the opposition did not take to violence. You asked them to go to court. Now you are in court; you are preaching violence.’
As for a user that goes by the name, Rinu Oduala, if anarchy occurs in the country as a result of any ruling by the judiciary that orders that President Tinubu should step down, the blame should be given to the ruling party. Her tweet: ‘Any anarchy that happens in Nigeria because of Tinubu is sponsored. APC thugs who were unleashed in the 2023 elections are again being rallied for another wave of violence. This time, Nigerians will meet you on the streets.’
An APC Congress member, Dada Olusegun argued that Mr Tinubu’s lawyer did not argue that there would be anarchy if the election was nullified. He stated: ‘They argued that Abuja is the 37th state for electoral purposes, and any other interpretation would lead to anarchy. But as usual, the fake news machines are desperate to twist it.’
