Some elder statesmen under the auspices of Nigerian Elders and Leaders, on Thursday expressed anger over a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari that his administration would continue to place national security and interests above the rule of law.

The elders, who were drawn from the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Middle Belt Forum, Northern Elders Forum, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, described the President’s position as “an attempt to rewrite the constitution and a calculated assault on constitutional governance, the rule of law and democracy.”

The elder statesmen who included the PANDEF leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Yoruba leaders, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, and Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Northern Elders Forum Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdulahi, a former governor of old Anambra State, and Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said this at the second Summit of Nigerian Elders and Leaders on ‘the State of Democracy, the Economy and National Security’ in Abuja.

Other participants at the summit included Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (retd.), President, Middle-Belt Forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, and Afenifere spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin.

Buhari had in an address at the commencement of the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association last Sunday said that his administration would continue to place the nation’s security and national interest above the rule of law.

But the elders said they would resist any impunity from the Federal Government.

Addressing the summit, Clark said, “He (Buhari) is now rewriting the constitution; I think we have to remind our President that he did not stage a coup to become the president and he should know that we are guided by the law.

“Buhari is taking steps each day to silence the opposition. We will not accept this impunity. We must take serious steps to let Buhari know that he is taking wrong steps,” the elder statesmen submitted.

The group vowed to continue to oppose the President on issues that were against the rule of law, insisting that he should withdraw his statement.

“I want to reassure you that no one can intimidate us from discussing the progress of this country. At 91, I am old and I do not need anything from anybody. So we will be free to speak our minds, provided it is in the interest of this country,” Clark stated.

Abdullahi in his comment said NEF was concerned about the survival of the nation, adding that it would continue to condemn unwholesome conduct of politicians.

“For us in the northern region, we want to assure our colleagues from other parts of the country that we are determined that this country must survive. We do not have reasons why this country should not develop.

“We must make this country great. We must condemn the behaviour of some politicians who are bent on destroying this country. We must be able to stand on behalf of our people and to make sure that they survive,” he said.

Adebanjo flayed the President’s remarks, adding that it showed how desperate he was, noting that Buhari’s position showed that the people were not safe.

He said, “The man who we are criticising is not taking it easy. If things go this way, we all are not safe. It shows how desperate Buhari has become now.

“Buhari’s decision will not work, the President should withdraw that statement. It is a punishable offence to want to change the constitution of this country.”

Recalling his ordeal, Adebanjo said Buhari jailed him when he was 68 years old, stressing that the elders would oppose him until he left the office.

“Buhari is incompetent. We must be alert and tell Buhari that he cannot rewrite the constitution. If the people here cannot save the country, nobody can save the country,” Adebanjo noted.

PVision2020:
Even in advance democracy, the national security supersedes the rule of law.
Under which rule of law was Osama Bin Laden Murdered?
CIA published names of assumed terrorists and place bounty on their head to get them dead or alive without referring to any rule of law.
Under which rule of law were Guatanamo (and several others) inmates incarcerated?
Obama campaigned that he was going to close down Guatanamo bay but was treated with the reality by the service chiefs when he assumed office.
Under which rule of law did Mossad (Israeli secret forces) and CIA etc carry out several extrajudicial killings? Killing nuclear scientist, assumed terrorists, political leaders etc.
Under which rule of law did Western nations use in causing unrest and usurping powers in other nations?
Not every issue of national import can be discuss in the court room and that's why every nation have their CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
There are still 20th century informations that are still classified in the US.
It takes more than being a Mr Nice Guy to rule a nation.
I know it'll be very hard to draw the middle line between supremacy of the national interest and dictatorship, that's the reason why we need to elect a president with good antecedents that we can trust with several clandestine decision.

SalamRushdie:
Rule of Law is the Paramount National Interest!!!!!

Yes National interest supersedes individual rights but the Rule of Law and our courts shall be the final arbiter to translate what National interest is and not some lifeless dullard called Buhari... The problem is Buhari and his nepotic vindictive security chiefs want to be the determinant of what National interest is which is total balderdash and nothing but a blank check to full dictatorship and human rights abuse ...Though national interest supersedes individual interest the Rule of Law shall be the determinant of what National interest is At Any point and not some dullard called Buhari .... By trying to deliberately misinterpret this judgement Buhari is ironically saying his personal interest as president supersedes the collective national interest which is a big lie we must all reject ... Say No to Buharis penchant for reckless abuse of our rule of law , in 1983 Buhari disguised his personal interest as national interest and truncated our democracy with criminal coup plot and today he plans to do so again by trying to misinterprete this supreme court judgement for his personal interest ... SAY NO!!!!!

PVision2020:
Even in advance democracy, the national security supersedes the rule of law.
Under which rule of law was Osama Bin Laden Murdered?
CIA published names of assumed terrorists and place bounty on their head to get them dead or alive without referring to any rule of law.
Under which rule of law were Guatanamo (and several others) inmates incarcerated?
Obama campaigned that he was going to close down Guatanamo bay but was treated with the reality by the service chiefs when he assumed office.
Under which rule of law did Mossad (Israeli secret forces) and CIA etc carry out several extrajudicial killings? Killing nuclear scientist, assumed terrorists, political leaders etc.
Under which rule of law did Western nations use in causing unrest and usurping powers in other nations?
Not every issue of national import can be discuss in the court room and that's why every nation have their CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.
There are still 20th century informations that are still classified in the US.
It takes more than being a Mr Nice Guy to rule a nation.
I know it'll be very hard to draw the middle line between supremacy of the national interest and dictatorship, that's the reason why we need to elect a president with good antecedents that we can trust with several clandestine decision.

BedLam:
I don't have a problem with national interest supeceeding anything but who gets to interprete what is rule of law ? Buhari and the rest of his Minnows can tell us that the govt funding ranches nationwide is of national interest.

The hand writing is on the wall, his first term is just the warm up!
I pity anyone going to vote him, na him people go still suffer am.