Ajakaye: Why May 29 Handover Date Must Not Be Altered
Advises Tinubu on politics of engagement
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, has cautioned those asking for the suspension of the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to forget the idea, insisting that the May 29, handover date must not be altered.
The Ekiti Catholic Bishop warned that anything short of this could lead to unnecessary constitutional crisis in the country.
Ajakaye said President Muhammadu Buhari must handover to the President-elect,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29, and leave office for another elected President according to the constitution.
"President Buhari will end his two-term of eight years on the said day and there must never be a vacuum. Why the call for the suspension of the inauguration of the president-elect until the determination of the court?" he asked.
Ajakaye made the remarks at the 57th World Communications Day, at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, said, "A new us is possible in Nigeria," and that, “until we fashion out a lawful way or lawful ways of addressing legion of electoral matters before the stipulated date of 29 May of any electoral year.
"All those inaugurated on the day and their elections are subsequently nullified by the court, up to the Supreme Court, such people must refund their salaries and other emoluments within the period they held forth illegally. Not only that, such people are not to be addressed as former this, former that, because the courts have ruled against them."
The Catholic Bishop said there was need to continue to emphasise internal democracy in all the political parties for real democracy to be an avenue of good governance in Nigeria.
He, therefore, suggested that independent candidacy in the nation’s politics was needed now than ever before.
"I encourage the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote politics of engagement, not politics of intimidation, if his renewed hope has to be meaningful and positive than outgoing President Buhari's 'Change'. A new us is possible in Nigeria."