…it's a lesson to unproductive leaders says ACF
The Federal Government yesterday denounced Wednesday's military intervention in Egypt, which led to the ouster of the first democratically- elected president, Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over the action of the military in deposing a democratically elected president.
The statement reads: "The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with grave concern, news of the overthrow by the Armed Forces, of the democratically elected President of Egypt, Mr. Mohammed Morsi and the suspension of the country's constitution.
This is a truncation of the aspirations of the Egyptian people to freely express themselves through the ballot box. "This unfortunate development is a gross violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which prohibits unconstitutional change of government.
It constitutes a serious setback of the remarkable progress which Africa has made in fostering the culture of democratic governance in the continent. "Nigeria calls for the immediate restoration of the democratic order in Egypt and urges the Egyptian Armed Forces to allow the democratic culture to thrive in the country.
Nigeria also calls on the Egyptian people to exercise utmost restraint in the peaceful pursuit of their legitimate grievances." But the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, said what happened in Egypt would be a lesson for unproductive leaders.
This was contained in a short text message sent to National Mirror yesterday by ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr Anthony Sani.
Sani said: "I really cannot tell you what influence the happenings in Egypt will have on Nigeria, but if the change has been inspired by the mass protests against the government, then it should be a lesson to those leaders who are unable to make a distinction between power and the claim often made on its behalf."
