Following the coup d’etat in Niger, the immediate-past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Saturday, called on the opposition parties to totally reject and condemn the actions of the mutinous soldiers which ousted and detained the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Keyamo in a tweet on Saturday, noted that coup does not only overthrow the democratic elected President, but also overthrows all levels of constitutional governments in a country, including the governments formed by the opposition parties at different levels of governments after winning elections at those levels.
In his words: “We all have a duty, whether as members of the Opposition or the ruling party, to outrightly reject and condemn the coup in Niger Republic.
“Those who think they have scored a point by comparing the coup to their so-called narrative of a flawed election in Nigeria should know that they are cutting their noses to spite their faces.
“A coup does not overthrow only the President alone; a coup overthrows all levels of constitutional governments in a country, including the governments formed by the opposition parties themselves at different levels of governments after winning elections at those levels.
“In fact those who take fancy in appealing to the mob on social media to get ‘clicks and likes’ will be in jail if a coup happens and will not even have such opportunity again to speak their minds.”
While noting that the coup is not the best solution to disputed elections in Africa, Keyamo said the opposition should learn to subject itself to the constitutional order of addressing disputed elections and election grievances in some institutions.
Keyamo further observed that, “The earlier we realise that a coup d’etat is not a solution to disputed elections in Africa, the better for us. Almost all elections in Africa have always been disputed anyway.
“Whilst there are constitutional means to seek redress in a disputed election, there is no means to seek redress for a coup, because even the Constitution itself would be suspended when a coup happens.
“We must learn to subject ourselves to the constitutional order of addressing disputed elections and election grievances, even when our faith in some institutions are shaky.
“Our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as opposition leader, demonstrated this fine democratic attribute of fighting electoral injustice through constitutional means and not by supporting or calling for coups; and he succeeded at the end. The opposition should be humble enough to learn from him.”
