Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has said Nigeria’s handling of the 2015 general elections will determine if it will remain united, indivisible and stable.
He said the country was already divided within faultlines, with politicians ready to exploit them without noble objectives.
The former military leader spoke in Abuja at a conference organised by Peoples Media, publishers of Peoples Daily, with the theme: “Nigeria: The 2015 question”.
He described the the general election as a “watershed moment in the history of the country”.
Gen. Abubakar said: “As political animals that we all are, nothing seems to have gripped the imagination of Nigerians as the issue of the coming 2015 general elections which in my view is a watershed moment in the history of our dear country.
“The way we are able to handle this very important event will largely determine how successful we will be in our efforts at remaining a united, indivisible and stable country. Already, the fault lines are apparent and politicians are ready to exploit them to the fullest to achieve their sometimes no so noble objectives.”
“The 2015 election is, among other things, expected to determine where power will reside for the next four years. The North is determined to have it back and its leaders are pulling all the stops to see that that happens. On the other hand, the body language of the incumbent President strongly suggests he wants another term in office.”
House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said people were throwing caution to the winds with their comments ahead of the general elections.
The speaker urged politicians to see power as an opportunity to leave a positive mark on governance instead of a means to enrich themselves and their cronies.
Tambuwal said 2015 was in the hands of the Presidency and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). He urged them to deliver free and fair elections.
He said: “It has made our usually challenging federal system even more difficult. People from different parts of the country seem to have drawn the line on this matter and even highly respected people throw caution to the winds when they comment on 2015.
“We must learn to run our government in such a manner that whoever comes to power, the rights and privileges of every citizen remains guaranteed. Once we stop seeing power as an opportunity to enrich our friends and cronies but an opportunity to leave positive mark on governance.
“Yes, 2015 is indeed pregnant. But it is in our hands if we want it to deliver a bright future or a foetus of aborted hopes and dreams. The responsibility is of course first on those who hold power currently and the election umpire that we now have. If they decide to conduct fair and free elections, if the scales are not rigged, then the hope that 2015 will usher in a more peaceful and more progressive year is not in doubt.”
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in his lecture tagged “The Metaphor of Change and the politics of 2015”, said corruption, ethnicity, weak institutions caused by poor leadership heralded the country’s political and economic history.
He accused the government of President Goodluck Jonathan of institutionalising corruption.
Amaechi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, blamed the elite in power for disregarding the rule of law.
He said: “Currently in the present regime of President Goodluck Jonathan, corruption appears to have been institutionalised. A whopping sum of twenty billion dollars is alleged to have been missing. It smears of corruption.
“Nigeria’s political and economic history is beset with ethnicity, corruption, poor and weak or lack of institutions, glorified by poor leadership.
“Perhaps the most troubling aspect of our nationhood is the arrogant display by the elite of power above the rule of law.”
Yobe State Governor iIbrahim Geidam urged the country to put sentiments aside and work together to overcome the killings in the Northeast.
Geidam, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Abdullahi Bego, commended the military but called for more troops in the state.
He said: “The military on ground in Yobe State are doing their best. But they have to do more. We have to work together irrespective of our religion, background and beliefs.
Minister of Information Labaran Maku said the political class had a lot to do ahead of 2015 election.
Maku, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Kingsley Osadolor, faulted the media for paying attention to politicians who make reckless comments.
The minister urged the media to give attention to development news.
Maku said: “The Nigerian political class has a lot of examination to do before 2015. Beyond this wall, how do we get other Nigerians to be fully behind this challenge? What we have witnessed is a grandstanding by the political elite
“Overtime, the Nigerian media have given attention to reckless talks by the political elite threatening fire and brimstone to paint a picture that the country is moving towards war in 2015 instead of development news.”
The Vice Chancellor, Veritas University, Bwari FCT, Prof. Mike Kwanashie blamed the political class for the problem facing Nigerian.
Kwanashie noted that Nigeria may not exist if the political class fail to work together in 2015.
Prof Kwanashie said: “The problem with Nigeria today is the political class. If they don’t get their act together, I don’t know what will happen in 2015. I think those who can read the signs should read the signs.”
