By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Oodua Progressive Care Initiative (OPCI) has cautioned the undemocratic elements in the country calling for a military coup or an interim government to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of Nigerians, especially millions of people who voted massively to elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on February 25 as the incoming Nigerian President, saying the election was free, fair and credible.

Addressing a press conference in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, on Sunday, the OPCI President, Chief (Dr.) Maruff Olarewaju, warned that the “OPCI as an organisation that
believes in efficacy of law, democracy and the unity of Nigeria, shall not and will not fold our hands and be watching these elements of destruction to truncate our hard-earned democracy.

“If what these unscrupulous were attempting now was done successfully in the 1993 June 12 election when MKO Abiola’s election was annulled, we will not allow that to repeat itself now. We will do everything possible to defend the democracy, to sustain the democracy, to grow the democracy and to defend the mandate freely given by Nigerians to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 25. We will mobilise all the sister organisations, Yoruba sons and daughters within and outside the country to defend the said mandate.

“We are ready to lay down our lives if situation demands. We shall fight this battle to a logical conclusion without looking back, we will not allow any individual or group of people to destabilise our democracy, we are ready to defend it with the last drop of our blood. Any ill advice that can lead to non handing over on May 29 to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we will resist it at all cost and by any means.”

The OPCI President, who noted that in politics some would win while others would lose, stressed the need for the duo (winners and losers) to accept the outcome of the elections as part of their destiny and the will of Almighty God, adding that in every contest there must be a winner and also a loser.

He said: “Nobody should see politics as a do or die affair. It is therefore uncalled for that any politician can now be beating the drum of war after losing elections as it only shows their level of understanding, maturity and political sagacity.

“In 2023 presidential election, it is an undisputable fact that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election convincingly with over eight million votes and he was declared as the winner by INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud and certificate of return was given to him.

“We in the OPCI therefore want to advise any aggrieved politician or political party to seek redress through the legal means in the court of law rather than trying to resort to self up and undemocratic means capable of causing crisis or throwing our nation into a state of anarchy.

“We don’t pray for war and we don’t want war in our land, but the people beating the drum of war by calling for an interim government or military coup are enemies of progress and should either stop or be prepared to dance naked to their own music in the market place.”