This was even as the group urged the security agencies to step up vigilance ahead of the scheduled inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
Recall that the DSS Spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, had on March 29 stated that it uncovered plans by some Nigerians to undermine civil rule and foist an interim government on the country.
The threat was discovered three weeks after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the president-elect as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Tinubu had polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who got 6,984,520 votes and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi that had 6,101,533 votes.
But the outcome of the poll was contested by Atiku and Obi at separate press conferences on the grounds that it was rigged and marred by voters intimidation.
The result also saw some protesters under the umbrella of Free Nigeria Movement called on the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to annul the presidential election and set up an interim government.
The demonstration also witnessed other counter-protests in Abuja by other pro-democracy groups who warned against the imposition of an ING.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, Coordinator of The Natives, Smart Edwards, applauded the military and the DSS for snubbing calls to scuttle democracy and have an interim government installed.
Edwards also commended the agencies for raising the alarm and for moving swiftly to expose plots by the anti-democratic elements who want to throw the nation into chaos.
He said, “We must at this juncture openly commend profusely the swift response of the DSS under their Director General, the Defense Headquarters, and the entire Intelligence community for their professionalism and commitment to their democratic obligation by alerting and distancing the establishment from any complicity and readiness to frustrate any mischievous effort to truncate our much-cherished democracy.
“You may wish to know that pathetic political jobbers parading the nation appealing for Interim national government because of their conspiracy theories and illusions on the outcome of the just concluded elections have attracted shame for themselves and their co-travelers by the dignity of our gate-keepers, a worthy armed forces. These saboteurs by their open and sinister moves have been bungled and busted by the vigilance and verity of the Department of State Security.
“So for taking a professional stand and democratic position in the face of intending political catastrophe, protecting our constitution, and non-interference in the statutory roles of the electoral body, our military and intelligence community deserves global applause. Towards this end, we encourage the military and the intelligence community to remain ever-committed to civilian rule and sustain their character as professionals and defenders of our sovereignty.
“We, The Natives, are also using this medium to urge the Nigerian security apparatus to step up their games against the saboteurs as the Nation prepares towards the historic inauguration of the 16th President of Nigeria, another popularly elected President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
