Polls
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, May 22, 2018(NAN) Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and others on Tuesday called for peaceful 2019 polls in Nigeria.
The others were the wife of a former vice-president, Mrs Titi Abubakar, and Founder of the Peacemakers Community Development Foundation (PCDF), Pastor Shola Adedeji.
They made the call at the launch of PCDF’s “Say Yes’’ to 2019 peaceful general elections in Abuja.
Mustapha, represented by Annet Asugha, said peaceful elections were important to the socio-economic development of the country as much as the country’s economy was crucial to the development of Africa.
He said Nigeria would not want violence to take place in the 2019 elections as any eruption of trouble in whatever magnitude would endanger the wellbeing of Africa.
According to him, no African country has the capacity to accommodate refugees from Nigeria in case of any disintegration caused by electoral violence.
“We must protect this country; we are here to ensure election perfection and every stakeholder at local, state and federal level must mobilise resources to ensure successful 2019 elections,’’ he said.
Mustapha called for new measures to bring additional transparency and credibility to the elections, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission should ensure wider voter participation.
“All hands must be on deck to stem electoral malpractice and if we play our roles well there will be no complaints.
“Peace is a prerequisite for credible polls,’’ Mustapha added.
On her part, Abubakar, represented by Mrs Blessing Egbara, said the call for peaceful polls could not have come at a better time.
According to Abubakar, the spate of electoral violence should be curtailed.
“Conduct of peaceful election in Nigeria may be more challenging than envisaged; our young democracy should be nurtured.
“I call on all stakeholders to support this programme as the strategic role for partnering cannot be over emphasised,’’ she added.
Abubakar also called for the integration of the youth in political activities, noting that this was the beginning of the journey to a greater Nigeria.
The initiator of the PCDF, Adedeji, noted that the nation’s democracy had come a long way and deserved all-round development and growth in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.
She said the foundation decided to contribute its quota to the forthcoming 2019 polls to make it a peaceful transition and electioneering process.
“Nigeria’s democratic project is a most viable one which must be protected,’’ she said.
The consultant to the Project Organising Committee, Mr Olaposi Oginni, observed that violent polls would put the nation’s democracy in jeopardy.
Oginni said the country was in a precarious situation due to the killings in parts of the country.
“There should be no bloodshed in 2019; we need a free and fair election for peaceful transition.
“The President (Buhari) is a man of integrity and anything devoid of free and fair polls is tantamount to corruption,’’ he stated.
The Guest Speaker at the event, Mrs Christie Adams, from U.S., said that Nigerians could say “yes’’ and do it in 2019 and the country would be seen as a prototype for other nations.
“The position of Nigeria in the continent is very key; God reigns and He causes us to reign.
“It is time for tables to be reversed as God has heard the cries of the wounded; enough is enough.
“Let the righteous rise and the innocent live, now is the time and let it be peace for Nigeria,’’ Adams prayed.
The SGF, Abubakar, and some Nigerians were invested as ambassadors of peace on the occasion , while a businessman, Chief Keshington Adebutu, launched the foundation’s 2019 peace emblem.(NAN)
DCU/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie