The Nigerian Citizens Investigative Platform (NICIP), a leading pro-democracy and social justice organisation, hereby issued a stern warning to the Federal Government regarding the recurring physical “red flags” surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The platform asserts that the health of the President is a matter of national security and must not be treated as a private family secret or managed by a circle of political cronies.
Referring to the recent official explanation blaming a “poorly laid red carpet” for the President’s stumble during a parade in Turkey, NICIP describes the narrative as a “disturbing and familiar script” used to shield the public from the reality of an ailing leadership.
“The Nigerian people are not children, and we refuse to be fed fairytales about carpets,” said Comrade IG Wala, speaking for NICIP.
“From the era of late President Umar Musa Yar’adua to the medical vacations of President Buhari, we have seen how ‘cronies’ use secrecy to stay in power while the nation drifts into a constitutional vacuum. We are sounding the alarm now to ensure that the ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ does not become our only option once again.”
NICIP argues that by pushing an elderly and visibly tired leader through the rigours of statecraft, what it calls a “long trek”, the political class is committing an act of unfairness against both the man and the over 200 million citizens he leads.
The NICIP Demands:
1. Constitutional Accountability.
A reminder to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of their solemn duty under Section 144 of the 1999 Constitution. They are sworn to the Federal Republic, not to a political individual.
2. Independent Medical Briefing.
The platform demands a transparent, independent medical assessment of the President’s fitness for office to douse public speculation and restore market confidence.
3. End to Information Management: An immediate cessation of the “deflection” strategy that blames external factors for the President’s physical stumbles.
4. A Call to Citizens: NICIP urges all pro-democracy activists and Civil Society Organizations to police these abuses of transparency to prevent governance from falling into the hands of an unelected “cabal.”
“Our intervention is rooted in social justice and a deep love for Nigeria,” Comrade, IG Wala continued. “We seek to prevent the adverse effects of an incapacitated presidency. Transparency is not an attack; it is a requirement for a stable democracy.”
NICIP is a pro-democracy and social justice organisation dedicated to investigative transparency, human rights, and the protection of constitutional values in Nigeria. It serves as a watchdog for citizen interests against bad governance and institutional cover-ups.