What your utterances!- Presidency warns Buhari critics on restructuring
The Presidency has advised those in the forefront of the agitation for restructuring of the country to exercise restraint in their choice of words as they criticise President Muhammadu Buhari.
The call was made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Presidential aide pointed out that the restraint was necessary to avoid heating up the polity and causing acrimony across the country.
Shehu noted that while Nigerians were free to express themselves, they should “exercise such liberty with restraint and a sense of responsibility.”
According to him, calling Buhari an enemy of Nigeria was in extremely bad taste.
He said that nothing in the President’s service record would justify “such scurrilous language.”
Shehu was optimistic that majority of Nigerians welcomed Buhari’s broadcast to the nation on Monday.
He, however, said it was off the mark to criticise him for not responding to calls for restructuring.
“To critique the President for not imposing a restructuring on the country – whatever that means – is completely off the mark.
“Changes don’t happen on a whim in a democracy. The ‘immediate effect’ military mentality cannot work under a democratic order.
“Since the President has sworn to defend the Constitution, he would remain faithful to that oath by working with the legislature in taking major decisions on the future of Nigeria’s federal system.
“The country’s parliament is ready and willing to discuss all issues but the pundits are more interested in TV and newspaper headlines.
“Threats don’t work in a democracy. Democracy requires planning and proper process. Issues are resolved through established processes, not by abuses, insults or irresponsible statements.”
