The Federal Government yesterday announced it had placed all security and law-enforcement agencies on �full alert� in its bid to �ensure a successful transition to a new democratic administration on May 29th 2007.�
Also, government warned that it will not sit by and allow any individual or group truncate the forthcoming general elections in the pursuit of personal interests vowing that �this government will deploy all the powers and forces available to it to guarantee the peaceful and secure conditions necessary for the general elections to go ahead as planned. No individual or group should test the will of Government on this matter.�
In a statement yesterday, the president�s Senior Special assistant on Media Mrs Oluremi Oyo said President Olusegun Obasanjo remained irrevocably committed to a democratically elected president on May 29, 2007, the government will not �tolerate any attempt from any quarter to willfully create conditions that will make it impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections as scheduled on April 14 and April 21�
Defending the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission to exclude Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and others from contesting the forth coming election, the President said the commission was properly guided by the constiution and other relevant laws of the land in arriving at its decision.
�Nigerians should note that INEC has been properly guided by the country�s constitution and all other relevant laws in its preparations for the elections and refuse to be deceived by the false claims of those who have been constitutionally excluded from the electoral process as prescribed by our constitution and laws to rid governance of bad eggs and corrupt elements for the good of our beloved country,� the statement added.
The full text of the statement reads:
�Against the background of recent developments in the polity and intelligence reports available to it, the Presidency wishes to state with all possible emphasis that under no circumstances will it allow any individual, group or institution to abort next month�s general elections in the reckless and irresponsible pursuit of personal ambitions to the detriment of overriding national interests.
�President Olusegun Obasanjo remains irrevocably committed to handing over the reins of government to a new, democratically-elected administration on May 29th this year. The Federal Government will therefore not tolerate any attempt from any quarter to willfully create conditions that will make it impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections as scheduled on April 14 and April 21.
�Nigerians should note that INEC has been properly guided by the country�s constitution and all other relevant laws in its preparations for the elections and refuse to be deceived by the false claims of those who have been constitutionally excluded from the electoral process as prescribed by our constitution and laws to rid governance of bad eggs and corrupt elements for the good of our beloved country.
�All patriotic Nigerians must therefore rise up now and join hands in defending the hard-won gains of our democratic dispensation against the evil schemes of selfish individuals and corrupt politicians who want power at all costs, not for any noble or worthy purpose, but so that they can resume the unbridled looting of our national wealth.
�Their plans to sponsor protests across the country and engender violence and mayhem through the propagation of falsehoods and religious intolerance must be resisted. Parents also must refuse to allow their children to be used as cannon-fodder for any one�s selfish ambition.
�The security and law enforcement agencies have been placed on full alert to support the determination of Government and all patriotic Nigerians to defend democracy and ensure a successful transition to a new democratic administration on May 29th 2007.
�This Administration will deploy all the powers and forces available to it to guarantee the peaceful and secure conditions necessary for the general elections to go ahead as planned. No individual or group should test the will of Government on this matter.�