‘Post-election violence aimed at forcing military to take over power’

Posted by admin Elections 2011, Latest Politics Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

A strong indication has emerged that the recent post-presidential election violence which erupted in the North was carefully organised to cause unrest across the country with a view to forcing the armed forces to take over government in the country.

However, a source who preferred anonymity told the Nigerian Tribune that those who allegedly sponsored the post-election violence were not happy that there were no reprisal attacks in the South, especially in the South-East.

The source stated that since the proposed alliance between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) hit the rock, a few disgruntled elements perfected plans to cause violence in order to send the civilian regime in the country packing.

According to him, the masterminds’ thinking was that if there was unrest in the North which escalated to the South, it could have been enough excuse for the military to take over power, cutting short the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan, who won the presidential election.

He noted that for the South’s decision not to retaliate, Nigeria could have been plunged into another civil war between the North and the South.

The source hinted that the intention of the masterminds was to create a semblance of the unrest that followed the annulment June 12, 1993 presidential election, acclaimed to have been won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola. The annulment led to unrest in the South-West, where the winner hailed from.

-Tribunewp_posts