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‘Resume or Resign’ protest is corruption fighting back- Presidency

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‘Resume or Resign’ protest is corruption fighting back- Presidency

The Presidency on Thursday dismissed the ‘Resume or Resign’ protest as a ploy by ill-motivated supporters of the old corrupt order to scuttle the Buhari administration’s corruption fight, while emphasizing that the government would not be distracted by it.

The government’s position was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, while addressing members of the Center for Civil Society and Justice (CCSJ), a civil society coalition that staged a rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari at the precincts of the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Shehu dismissed the “Resume or Resign” sit-in as an illegal assembly with the ulterior motive of sabotaging the war against corruption, while also praising Nigerians for standing up against the protesters.

Read also: #ResumeOrResign Day 4: Pro Buhari group storms Abuja to counter Charly Boy & co

In a statement he issued, Shehu said: “It might be taken for granted that the beneficiaries of the old order are fighting back. We have been warned that corruption will fight back.

“In a country where just one woman for having the opportunity to serve as minister has N47.2 billion and $487.5 million of public resources in cash and property traced to her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), you don’t expect the beneficiaries of that order to allow the Buhari administration some peace.

“They want to distract us. But what the Acting President wants to assure patriotic citizens is that the government will not bend.

“As far as the President is concerned, he has done the needful by handing the reins of authority to the Vice President. Since the law of the country does not give a time limit for the President’s return, it cannot be imposed by a saber-rattling group or individual.”

He also went on to commend CCSJ for being orderly in their rally, and urged them to shun all provocations by opponents of government.

He said, “By divine intervention, Muhammadu Buhari unexpectedly got elected with the ostensible mandate of reversing national decline and securing its future. He got into the Villa through democratic victory at election.

“Anybody desiring to replace him, whether you are wrestler, a hairdresser or a musician, you should go through that process. In a democracy, threats don’t work.”

Speaking on behalf of the group, the convener, Comrade Prince Goodluck Obi, said they had “absolute faith and trust in President Buhari’s administration and not machinations of corruption and destabilization”.

Obi added, “We are saying from today, 10th August 2017, we will be holding a rally/protest march here at Unity Fountain for the next one month and beyond in order to send clear and unambiguous message to agents of chaos and unity, that Nigerians are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration based on our democratic mandate entrusted to him on 28th March 2015.”

 

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