Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has said that the nation is yet at another critical junction as it prepares for the 2019 general elections.
Gowon said that there was need to consolidate on the peace enjoyed in 2015 in the 2019 general elections.
Gowon said that it was gratifying that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had pledged credible elections in 2019.
“Citizens of our nation cannot ask for less, but we should all be party to the success by ensuring that politicians vying for public offices and their supporters are united in the sincere pursuit of issue-based electioneering,” he said.
He said that regardless of Nigerians’ affiliations, buying of vote would defeat the essence of democracy, while elections rigging would deny the desire and aspiration of Nigerians for good governance.
Gowon urged party leaders and their candidates to honour the accord that they had signed, while also calling on INEC and security agencies and election observers to maintain their neutrally in the coming elections.
He commended President Buhari for signing the Not –Too-Young-To -Run Bill and the members of the National Peace Committee for organising the signing of the peace accord.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen, said that Nigeria had in 2015 set an example for Africa and for the world alike, seeing the outcome of democratic elections prevailed.
“As the country prepares for 2019 elections, we hope that Nigeria would further consolidate on democracy through free, fair, credible, transparent and peaceful elections,” he said.
Karlsen said that the presidential candidates and political parties had role to play by saying no to hate speech, vote buying, intimidation of voters and saying yes to peace and transparent elections.
He advised INEC to guide its independence, while political parties should guide their neutrality and guarantee safety without intimidating voters.
The dignitaries, who attended the occasion include: the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar II; the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah as well as INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar; the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria(ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili, and the PDP Chairman, Uche Secondus were conspicuously absent at the event.
– APA
