The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has condemned the postponement of 2015 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying such a move could lead to military coup.
The election was earlier scheduled to commence on 14th February. It will now commence on28th March because of security reasons cited by INEC.
In a statement issued by its President, Dr. Steven Oluwole after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, MDCAN described the decision as an insult to the collective intelligence of Nigerians.
“Insecurity as basis for postponement of elections sets the stage for military adventurism should the insurgency remain in six weeks’ time”, Oluwole said.
Oluwole added that the suffering of Nigerians in the northeast, who are now refugees in their own country, is lamentable and that the plights of MDCAN members in the northeast who continue to provide services without adequate protection are commended.
He condemned the inability of government to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, the increasing boldness of insurgents to take the battle to military bases, Boko Haram’s gradually achievement of its primary objective to control Nigerian territory, and the seeming helplessness of the Military in the face of the insurgency.
He lamented the state of the Nigerian Army, saying it has transited from a fighting force to a frightened force holed-up in barricaded barracks like scared sparrows.
“If Nigerian Army is struggling to defend its bases, then who is defending Nigerians?” he said
The organisation advised President Goodluck Jonathan to reorganise the defence structure of the military and also rid his government of the Boko Haram sympathisers, which he publicly admitted exist
“Failure or reluctance of Mr President to act speedily and decisively may put democratic governance in jeopardy and plunge this country into chaos that will fulfil the forecast of some foreign powers,” Oluwole said.
“Mr President will lose the legitimacy to rule if he allows the fundamental principles of democracy to be violated and the will of the people that elected him derailed.”
