by Kolapo Olapoju

The transition committees of President Goodluck Jonathan and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, are reportedly at loggerheads over various issues.

The President’s team has accused Buhari’s men of behaving like a parallel government and attempting rush the Jonathan administration out of office.

The development was communicated to journalists by Abubakar Suleiman, the Minister of Planning, while addressing state House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, April 29.

Suleiman, who is a member of the Jonathan Transition Committee, said the Buhari transition team was making impossible demands from the government.

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 with. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 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, 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 the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29.”

“The magnanimity of ‎Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice. That is why Mr. President and indeed council members enjoined Nigerians to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and 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 election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest. And that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are.