An elder statesman and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has replied legal icon, Afe Babalola and the Founder of House of God Church, Pastor Chris Okotie, for calling for an interim government in the country.
Yakassai said those calling for an interim government are not democrats because it is illegal and has no place in a democracy.
He stated this in during an interview with Vanguard on Thursday.
Babalola suggested that; “As soon as the President, the present government completes its term, do not hold a new election. Rather let us have an interim government for a short period to discuss a new Constitution.”
In a similar vein, Okotie said, “The presidential system has failed this country and we need to do something before the country goes extinct. We need to do away with the Legislature.”
Yakassai said, “As far as I am concerned, those calling for an interim government in a democratic setting are not democrats. Ask any of those calling for an interim government to tell you the provision of the Constitution that allows for an interim government in a democracy.
“Interim is illegal and we can’t go for illegality. It has no place in democracy. You can’t claim that because of the state of tension, there should be an interim government. Even if there is going to be an interim government, how are you sure it would solve the tension in the country?
“If anybody is saying that he is going to solve Nigeria’s problem with an interim government, let him come up with a blueprint on how he is going to solve the problem. In any case, I am a democrat; I don’t see an interim government solving our problem as a nation. So I am not in support of it.”