Politics
By Anthony Isibor
THE joint body of the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Reconciliation on Ensuring Peaceful, Free and Fair general elections in 2023, has called on Nigerians to do their utmost to ensure that the elections take place in a free, fair and transparent atmosphere.
In a press statement, co-signed by H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, H.M. Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, and Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke, Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, the group noted that this will enable the best candidates to emerge as new president, governors, and legislators to lead the nation in addressing the numerous socio-economic challenges that we currently face.
According to the group, the call became necessary following the myriads of challenges. From a pervasive insecurity, a faltering economy and fiscal insolvency, mounting youth unemployment, widespread corruption and a growing despair to the trauma from the combined effects of run-away inflation, the poorly managed currency exchange exercise, and unabating fuel scarcity and black market price hikes, there is an unprecedented pressure on the fault lines that define our plural nation.
“It is in the light of the foregoing that the joint body proffers the following as imperatives for the shared goal of an orderly, peaceful, harmonious, and unifying general election exercise:
“We implore the Federal and State Governments and their relevant agencies to do their utmost to ensure that the elections are free, fair and transparent. This would eliminate or minimize any post-election disputes and enable the winners to gain the immediate support of the electorate in confronting the challenges at hand.
“We beseech all registered voters to come out in full force to exercise their constitutional rights and responsibilities of voting for the candidates of their choice without fear or favour. We urge the electorates to resist any intimidation or efforts to compromise their conscience with cheap financial or material gestures that could provide momentary comfort but impoverish and compromise them for four years or longer through bad governance. iii. We remind the electorate, the political class, and candidates for elective offices that they share the highest responsibility for strengthening our nascent democratic culture through their lawful conduct. Unfortunately, the Peace Accord signed by all the presidential candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee, headed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd), GCFR, has been seriously violated on several occasions, including murder and serious bodily harm. Accordingly, we call again on the leaders of all political parties and their candidates to remind their supporters, stakeholders, and party faithful, to commit unequivocally to non-violence and maintenance of peace during the elections and beyond.
“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise to its statutory mandate in delivering a flawless election with all the technology and human capacity at its disposal. It is crucial for the body to re-assure the nation of the practical integrity of its processes to forestall illegal tampering with the election results. Mindful that a distinct proportion of the electorates would be first-time voters, INEC should devise simple and handy instructions for such voters in order that their votes would not be invalidated.
“We reiterate that the security agencies have a solemn duty to guarantee the peaceful and free movement of people who come out to exercise their civic duties, as well as prevent troublemakers from disrupting the elections, and prevent attacks on any section of the people bases on ethnicity, religion or party affiliations before, during or after the elections. We urge that they devote particular attention to the Southeast, North East and North Central geopolitical zones where insecurity, violence, kidnapping for ransom, shedding of innocent blood, attacks on public buildings and uniformed officers, have prevailed for a long time.
“We make the above recommendations based on the fact that much of our current circumstances is linked directly and indirectly to the primary challenge of forging a pathway to an inclusive and prosperous nationhood. Along this journey, there have been mistakes, missteps and misunderstandings, all too often leading to tragic losses in lives, property, and even hope in the promise of our nation. Yet, there is no grievance that cannot be resolved through dialogue and the spirit of compromise and sacrifice. It is in the name of Almighty God therefore, that we urge all those who perpetrate these criminal and inhuman activities for whatever reasons and under whatever guises to think again about the pains they are inflicting on their fellow citizens and the entire country. We urge them to down their weapons and heed the calls to accept offers of amnesty quit the forests and join forces with the governments as partners for the development of our nation,” it said.
A.I
Tags: H.M. Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke
