The Presidency has reacted to a comment of Nigeria being restructured violently, credited to the former Chief of Defence Staff retired Gen. Alexander Ogomudia.
The former Chief of Defence Staff who delivered the keynote address at the Good Governance Lecture organised by the Catholic Church of Warri’s Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) stated that recent negative developments in the country has led to speculation of the country being overdue for restructuring and in urgent need of a new way of governance.
Ogomudia also expressed fear for the future of the country and the present security situation in the country as he recalled how “a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, was killed in the streets like an urchin and nothing happened”.
In a statement released by President Buhari’s media aide Garba Shehu, the presidency described Ogomudia’s comment as a vituperation which speaks volumes about the mindset of groups of citizens who have yet to accept democracy as a form of government.
The Presidency insisted that democracy and not violence is the only known constitutional means of bringing any type of change in the polity.
”It is very important to stress that we as a nation, are a constitutional democracy and changes to the country in structure, its systems, policy and politics must abide by the norms of democracy, otherwise they would be extrajudicial and therefore unconstitutional.
”This system has subsisted, uninterrupted, for upward of 20 years and still going, and the country’s law courts, with its armed forces are primed at all times to defend it using all means that are lawful.
”The biggest challenge to the country today is not necessarily from perceived regional or state imbalances or conflicts between the government at the centre and states but from the mindsets and entities rooted in the idea of violence as a means to change.
”Such individuals, groups and entities peddling ideologies of violence and hate are closed to the notion of healthy dialogue through popular platforms including elected parliaments, hence only open to violence and destruction as their means.”
He said: ”This administration under President Muhammadu Buhari is strongly of the view that democracy that is self-correcting under the laws as we have is the answer to growing calls for violence and a means to change in the structure, form and content of the union that binds us as one country.”
Garba Shehu also denied claims of the nothing being done to address the murder of retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, a former Chief of Defence Staff.
”Equally important is to deny the General’s assertion that nothing had been done on the unfortunate gruesome murder of Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, a former Chief of Defence Staff.
”Truth is, the investigation instituted by General Olonisakin, the current Chief of Defence Staff, has led to the arrest of 14 suspects based on their alleged involvement in a report that has been sent to the police and the Nigeria Air Force for further action,” he added.
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