FG warns Buhari against parallel govt

President Goodluck Jonathan has kicked against subtle attempts by the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s transitional committee to stampede and intimidate his government to dance to its tune ahead of the May 29 handover date.

Jonathan warned the incoming government to avoid creating a parallel government while his government was still on, adding that his magnanimity should not be mistaken for cowardice.

He also warned civil servants, heads of ministries, departments and agencies against disloyalty, urging them not to do things that will portray the country in bad light.

The Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman, who said the issue of the transition programme dominated the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, disclosed that the president and members took exceptions to some utterances and parts of the terms of reference of the incoming government that tended to look as if the current government was being stampeded or intimidated.

He said Council frowned at most of the statements and provisions in the terms of reference of the incoming government and advised Council members to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government and comply with them strictly.

Suleiman disclosed that 80 per cent of the handover notes and briefs from MDAs had been turned in, while the MDAs had been mandated to outline programmes and projects for commissioning and inspection.

The National Planning Minister who is also a member and chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that, “Council discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, we were asked to update Council on the progress report.

“We did mention to Council that as at yesterday (April 28), almost all the MDAs that were advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have complied except one or two ministries.

“The committee is having right now two versions of presentations; we have the executive summaries of all the MDAs handover notes and the entire handover notes from almost all the MDAs.

“The transition process is on course in terms of handover notes and briefs; we have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments.

“We did receive from incoming government’s transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And Council did agree that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remain’s the 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 at 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 advised that the terms of reference as formulated 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 agendas, they can decide to come out with policies the way they feel like.

“This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects it is 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, projects that need to be inspected. And members in Council should work as government, they should perform their work without intimidation and that government, especially civil servants, directors, director generals 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 the transion 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.

“The magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken for cowardice and that is why Mr. President and indeed Council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria and as such whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest. And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are,” he said.