Wait Till May 29: Jonathan Warns Buhari Against Forming Parallel Government

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The presidency today warned the President-elect Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) against forming a parallel government and overheating the polity.

Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman who briefed state house correspondents at the end of weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, said through its actions and utterances, the incoming government was overheating the polity and carrying out actions that may undermine the powers of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sulauman, who is also the sub-committee Chairman of the federal government’s transition committee, said the federal executive council (FEC) rejected the term of reference brought before it by the transition committee of Buhari.

“We did receive from in-coming government’s transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And ‎council did agree that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains head of the current government of this country. The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on.

“We take exceptions to some utterances to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.

“Council frowned (upon) ‎most of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.

“Council members are also of the view that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.

“When the incoming government takes over government, they can come out with their programmes; they can come out with their own ‎agenda; they can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like.

“This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects ‎it’s pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29.

“While Council enjoined members to be steadfast, Mr. President also enjoined members to come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, that needs to be inspected and members in council should work as government, should perform their work without intimidation and that government especially civil servants, directors, directors general should see this government as the current government and not do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light. ‎

“These are issues before the transition committee; these are issues that were raised on transition programme.

“I want to tell you that as at yesterday (Tuesday), the chairman of the incoming transition committee Mallam Ahmed Joda‎ conferred with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo. They had a very robust discussion and they are working together as a family and I want to believe for the good of this country things will work.”