Former Common Wealth Secretary, Emeka Anyaoku, yesterday, urged political party leaders to ensure peaceful conduct of tomorrow’s presidential and National Assembly elections, by encouraging violence-free polls.
He made specific reference to the January 14, 2015 Abuja (peace) Accord signed by 12 presidential candidates and their party chairmen.
The former Commonwealth scribe, in a message he termed “Eve-of-Poll Appeal to Political Party Leaders,” said: “Having acted as Chairman and principal witness to the signing of the Abuja Accord by 12 presidential candidates and their party Chairmen on 14 January 2015, I wish on the eve of the elections to remind all the signatories of their solemn commitment to the letter of the Accord.
“While it may be admitted that the campaigns have not been entirely free of hate speeches and some fracas, I believe that there is a general relief that the incidence of ugly violence has so far been less than what was experienced in the 2011 elections. For this, the security agencies deserve to be commended.
“But the real test is yet to come on the days of the elections and, in particular, the days immediately after the elections. I therefore once more urge the political party leaders and workers to be more actively and more visibly engaged in advocating non-violence to their supporters.
“With the eyes of the international community on Nigeria through the myriad of international observers who have arrived in the country for the elections, supporters of the political parties must be persuaded not to do disservice to the image and standing of our country.”
Chief Emeka Anyaoku
Lagos,26 March 2015.
