In an unprecedented move that is bound to raise eyebrows, the Nigerian military has warned against any protest in the aftermath of Tuesday’s judgement of the Court of Appeal validating President Umaru Yar’Adua’s election. ”The attention of the DHQ (Defence Headquarters) has been drawn to plans from some quarters to cause disruption following the Court of Appeal judgement on the presidential election petition,” the DHQ said in a statement in the capital city of Abuja. ”That is not the right way to go and certainly does not represent the peoples’ quest for national unity. ”The CDS (Chief of Defence Staff), Gen. (Owoye) Azazi, wants to use this opportunity to assure Nigerians that the military is solidly behind the President. We have seen the rule of law in action and we will do our best to ensure the maintenance of public peace as enshrined in our constitution,” the statement added. The ruling has generated mixed reactions in Africa’s most populous nation, and the two main opponents to President Yar’Adua in the 21 April presidential elections – Muhammadu Buhari and Abubakar Atiku – have asked their lawyers to appeal to the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court. Panapress
