Jonathan warns Buhari against running parallel govt, says I’m still in charge

The Federal Government on Wednesday warned the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, against actions capable of portraying him as running a parallel government at a time President Goodluck Jonathan is still fully in charge.The Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Sulaiman, issued the warning at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja.Sulaiman told State House correspondents that FEC considered the state of the transition programme and took exception to some utterances and terms of reference of the committee set up by Buhari.Buhari inaugurated a 19-member committee with a charge to members not to engage in a witch-hunt.Sulaiman, who is the chairman of the Technical Subcommittee of
the outgoing government’s transition committee, said such utterances by Buhari and his team were suggestive that the current government was either being stampeded or intimidated.He said, “We did receive from the incoming government’s transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically and council did agree that the President remains the current head of government of this country.“The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on.“We take exception to some utterances and some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.


“Council frowned on most of the statements, most of the provocations and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.“Council members are also told that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.“When the incoming government takes over government, they can come out with their programmes; they can come out with their own agenda and they can decide to come out with policies in the way they feel like.“This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects it is pursuing and it will continue to do that until the morning of May 29.”When asked to be specific on some of the terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee that the outgoing government felt uncomfortable with, Sulaiman simply told journalists to go and do their investigation.He also warned that Jonathan’s “magnanimity should not be taken as a sign of cowardice.”Sulaiman added that Jonathan and the council members “enjoined Nigerians to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and the international community as a way of keeping this country intact and as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria.“As such, whatever the outcome of the elections, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest. And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are.“These are issues that bordered on transition programme discussed in council.”