ACHIEVER PETERSON, Abuja
February 9, 2015 – The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria(MDCAN) has condemned postponement of the 2015 general elections earlier scheduled to commence on February 14 by the Independent National Electoral Commission stressing that the development could lead to military coup.
In a statement issued on Monday evening after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, MEDCAN President, Dr. .Steven Oluwole, described the decision as an insult to the collective intelligence of Nigerians.
“Insecurity as basis for postponement of elections sets the stage for military adventurism should the insurgency remain in six weeks time”, the association emphasized.
“The convoluted, contrived, and bogus reasons given for postponement of the elections insult the collective intelligence of Nigerians. Security Chiefs are public servants who were aware of the elections for at least a year, Security Chiefs who have failed to contain Boko Haram insurgency in six years now scheduled six weeks to do so. Insecurity as basis for postponement of elections sets the stage for military adventurism should the insurgency remain in six weeks time”, the union said.
The association is of the view that Security Chiefs that failed to prepare for the elections should be relieved of their duties effective immediately by Mr. President and that elections should be rescheduled for a fortnight.
:Failure or reluctance of Mr. President to act speedily and decisively may put democratic governance in jeopardy and plunge this country into chaos that will fulfill the forecast of some foreign powers,
“ Mr. President will lose the legitimacy to rule if he allows the fundamental principles of democracy to be violated and the will of the people that elected him derailed”, the association warned.
“The suffering of Nigerians in the northeast, who are now refugees in their own country, is lamentable. Members of the MDCAN in the northeast who continue to provide services without adequate protection are commended”, the statement said.
The association observed that inability of government to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, increasing boldness of insurgents to take the battle to military bases, adding that Boko Haram is gradually achieving its primary objective to control Nigerian territory.
It added that Nigerian Army reputed for rolling out tanks and armoured personnel carriers to crush peaceful demonstration of students and labour organisations has no visible front line against rag-tag Boko Haram,
“The military hardware displayed by Boko Haram will be destroyed by determined vigilantes let alone the military apparatus of a State. Nigerian Army has transited from a fighting to a frightened force holed-up in barricaded barracks like scared sparrows. Nigeria Army struggling to defend its bases raises the question who is defending Nigeria people? Boko Haram is existential threat to Nigeria”, the statement added.
MEDCAN therefore called on Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief to reorganise the defense structure of the military. “Mr President should rid his government of the Boko Haram sympathisers, which he publicly admitted exist”, the association said.
