ripplesnewsroom:
Buhari’s order against ballot box snatchers shows Nigeria now in ‘full blown dictatorship’- Dogara

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement that allot box snatchers will meet their death during the elections, saying that it is a clear indication that Nigeria’s democracy has become the victim of a full blown dictatorship.

In a press briefing by the Speaker, he wondered why despite adequate provisions in the laws to address electoral offenses, a democratically elected President would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land which by his oath of office he is to defend and protect.

He said, “This press briefing is to call the attention of well meaning Nigerians and the international community to the incendiary statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari, and Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national caucus of their party, earlier today.

“At the meeting the President said: ‘Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, may be that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless. I am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he would do it at the expense of his/her own life.”

“These statements clearly indicate that our democracy has become the victim of a full blown dictatorship, when one considers that a democratically elected President would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land which by his oath of office he is to defend and protect.”

Going further, the speaker noted that in view of this statement by the president, it is obvious that the military has been given a central role and co-opted into the conduct of the election despite the fact that they have no constitutional role in our electoral process.

He also debunked claims by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was given prior notice of the postponement of the elections, describing it as false and unnecessary blackmail.

Refuting the allegation, Hon Dogara said, “In this context, we categorically deny these false claims and unnecessary blackmail and regard the President’s statement as a call for extra-judicial killings considering the fact that there are adequate provisions in our laws to address electoral offenses.

Full details: https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/buharis-order-against-ballot-box-snatchers-shows-nigeria-now-in-full-blown-dictatorship-dogara/