Timi Frank: Buhari violating peace accord through campaign of terror against opposition

Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has given the national peace committee a 72-hour ultimatum to call President Muhammadu Buhari to order over “gross violation of the peace accord”.

The peace accord was signed by presidential candidates of different political parties ahead of the general election.

In a statement on Thursday, Frank said failure to make Buhari respect the peace accord within the stipulated period would force opposition political parties to pull out of the accord and subsequently direct their supporters to massively resist the “ongoing aggression against them”.

He noted that the call has become imperative due to the “ongoing campaign of terror” against leaders of opposition political parties.

Frank said the alleged crackdown grossly negates the spirit and letters of the accord “as there can be no peace without justice, equity and fairness”.

“How can a president that has sanctioned the diversion of state funds to finance his election say he has integrity? How can a president that is using state-funded security forces to intimidate, harass, detain and incarcerate members of the opposition say he has integrity? How can a president who continuously disdains and disregards lawful judicial pronouncements lay claims to integrity?” he asked.

“How can a president who has ordered his men to monitor banks and block the source of funds for opposition political parties say he has integrity?

“Let the presidency be warned. Nigerians are ready to take their destiny in their hands should the government not conduct itself properly to free the country from his clueless and inept administration.

“Any attempt to rig, truncate, or declare the next presidential election inconclusive – like the case of Osun state – or refuse to relinquish power after defeat would be tantamount to reversing the massive democratic gains the country has recorded since 1999.

“However, Nigerians are well prepared to resist any such draconian actions with the last drop of their blood.”

He said failure by the committee to ensure that Buhari and his agents conduct their electioneering campaigns in line with international best practices would lead to massive resistance by the people.