The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), has rebuffed calls by some Nigerians for the constitution of an Interim National Government to mid-wife the 2015 General elections which would usher in a new democratic government.
In a statement on Thursday, Adoke confirmed that there was no provision for an interim goverment in the 1999 Constitution.
Adoke affirmed that while he appreciated “the inalienable right of Nigerians to freely express themselves and proffer solutions to perceived national challenges, I am deeply concerned that some undiscerning Nigerians are being unwittingly led to believe that a certain prescription, which is totally alien to the Constitution, can be adopted as viable solution to our national challenges.”
“It has therefore become necessary to correct this misconception and refocus the citizenry on the path of constitutionalism and democratic tenets consistent with our quest for democratic consolidation in Nigeria.”
The AGF stated that “for avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state that the framers of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 did not envisage the constitution of Interim National Government to superintend over the affairs of Government.”
“It is therefore not surprising to observe that no provision for Interim National Government was made in the Constitution.”
“The contraption called “Interim National Government” is therefore alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and the arrangement should not be promoted by well–meaning Nigerians under any guise or circumstance.”
“Nigerians are therefore enjoined to continue to rely on the Constitution, which contains adequate provisions on how the democratic process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time”, Adoke added.
