The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), yesterday, called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the killing of #EndSARS protesters and the presidency’s constant denial of Federal Government’s complicity in the carnage.
CNPP, the umbrella body of all registered political parties in the country, also urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai and Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Prof. Armstrong Aduku Idachaba, to resign over their role in the shooting of unarmed protesters at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
It berated President Buhari, the security chiefs and other government officials for their attempts to cover up the extrajudicial killing of Nigerians, who were singing the National Anthem during the protests.
Secretary-General of CNPP, Chief Willy Ezugwu, made the declaration in a statement issued yesterday, while reacting to CNN’s investigative report that indicted the Nigeria Army over the Lekki killings.
“The International Criminal Court of Justice should investigate, arrest and prosecute the killers for crimes against humanity to serve as deterrent to other African leaders, who kill unarmed peaceful demonstrators protesting against bad governance.
“Nigeria’s democracy is in danger, as the Federal Government continues to silence the voice of dissent, using security apparatuses and executive powers to coerce citizens into submission,” the statement reads.
Ezwugu argued that it had become obvious that the President Buhari administration deliberately engaged Idachaba to intimidate, harass and stampede broadcast media houses to cover up the Lekki killings by slamming a N3 million fine on three television stations over their reports on the protests.
“As if the killings by officers of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Unit, were not enough, President Buhari, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, authorised the use of maximum force to disperse unarmed citizens protesting against bad leadership and extrajudicial killings in the country.
“It is a shame that the Federal Government and Nigeria Army have no respect for our national flag and anthem. The CNN investigation now raises strong doubts over the loyalty or allegiance of the security agencies to the country.
“Sovereignty belongs to the people and if the people for whom the President holds power in trust are now murdered in cold blood by their employees, who are paid through their taxes, there is danger for our democracy,” the statement added.
