Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, has expressed concern that the issue of an Interim National Government has been given an undeserved prominence in national discourse.
Speaking in a welcome address to federal lawmakers at the resumption of legislative proceedings, the Senate President warned that the Nigerian Constitution does not recognise an interim government.
Senator Mark also expressed concern that as the general election fast approaches, there is palpable tension in the country which is worsened by comment from politicians.
A former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, had told a gathering in Ogun State that there was a plan for an interim government, stressing that there was no provision for an interim government in the Nigerian Constitution.
At that gathering, Obasanjo withdrew his membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party citing his displeasure with happenings in the party and the leadership of the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan has, however, also said that there were no plans for an interim government in Nigeria, as being speculated by many Nigerians.
The Nigerian President gave the assurance on Monday in a meeting with the European Union observer group led by Mr Santiago Fisas.
President Jonathan assured the group that the May 29 handover date was sacrosanct, saying that those talking about a plan for an interim government were “just being mischievous”.
“There is no room for Interim National Government as being speculated in some quarters. That is not the agenda of government,” President Jonathan said.
