Some ex-political leaders, clerics, external forces plotting to overthrow Buhari – Presidency

The Presidency has alleged of a plot by some Nigerians, working with foreign elements, to overthrow the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said this was based on an alert by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Presidency accused some unnamed religious and former political leaders as masterminds, adding that it had unassailable evidence to prove its allegation of plots to pull the government down.

The statement added that the Presidency had observed that recent agitations by various groups and individuals were actually being orchestrated with the intent to create an atmosphere suiting for passing a vote-of-no-confidence on President Buhari.

It, however, vowed to decisively deal with the masterminds of the plot and reiterated that the Buhari-led administration was legally constituted.

It also promised to do all it would take to ensure that the country is kept together throughout the remaining days of the mandate of the current administration in 2023, not minding whose ox would be gored.

Part of the statement read, “The Department of State Services (DSS), on Sunday alerted on sinister moves by misguided elements to wreak havoc on the government, sovereignty and corporate existence of the country.

“Championed by some disgruntled religious and past political leaders, the intention is to eventually throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel a forceful and undemocratic change of leadership.

“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that these disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into further turmoil.

“The caterwauling, in recent times, by these elements, is to prepare the grounds adequately for their ignoble intentions, which are designed to cause further grief for the country.

“The agent provocateurs hope to achieve through artifice and sleight of hands, what they failed to do through the ballot box in the 2019 elections.

“Nigerians have opted for democratic rule, and the only accepted way to change a democratically elected government is through elections, which hold at prescribed times in the country. Any other way is patently illegal, and even treasonable. Of course, such would attract the necessary consequences.

“These discredited individuals and groups are also in cahoots with external forces to cause maximum damage in their own country.

“But the Presidency, already vested with mandate and authority by Nigerians till 2023, pledges to keep the country together, even if some unruly feathers would be ruffled in the process.”