By Sunday Ani
Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has condemned the call for an Interim National Government (ING), stressing that any attempt to do that will lead to anarchy in the country.
Addressing newsmen after its National Executive Council (NEC) and National Advisory Council (NAC) meeting in Lagos, yesterday, PFN National President, Francis Wale Oke, said those behind the call for ING only wanted to abort the country’s democracy.
He said election had been conducted and winners declared, and stressed that rather than call for anarchy, those who feel aggrieved by the outcome of the election should follow the constitutionally laid down legal procedures for redress.
Oke appealed to Nigerians, all levels of government and the judiciary as well as the presumed winners and losers of the election, at all levels, to sheathe their swords and not burn the country down.
He said: “The PFN, as a body, will never support any call for ING because that is an invitation to anarchy. But we want to appeal to Nigerians to bury their anger and disappointment for what happened and let the process of healing begin. Let us come together as one indivisible nation and join our hands to make sure we work together for peace, unity and harmony because it is in that atmosphere that we can make progress.
“Elections come and go because there is a nation within which to conduct election. There are people who want to rule that nation and there are people who want to choose who to rule. Let election not tear us into pieces. If we manage this season well, there will be a nation in the future where we will conduct election and there will be winners and people moving the nation. Let us not burn it down because if we do that, it is coming on our heads. If you lose election today, you stand to win tomorrow if you don’t give up. Let us be patient; let the judiciary finish its work and let the dust settle, so we can come together to promote peace, unity and progress.”
He advised winners not be arrogant in victory but remain mature, knowing that when election ends, governance begins and it is for everybody, both those who voted for and against the winner, just as he advised those who lost to be gallant in defeat knowing that tomorrow they can win if they did not give up.
He also advised the judiciary to do the right thing bearing in mind that they are the last hope of the common man.