Next month’s presidential election will be violence-free, those in the race pledged yesterday.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and nine other presidential candidates signed an accord to maintain peace.
They also pledged to stop vicious campaign comments, which could affect the conduct of a free and fair election.
The presidential candidates signed the agreement at a 2015 General Elections Sensitisation Workshop on Non-Violence in Abuja.
The session was hosted by the Office of the National Security Adviser and Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Inter-Party Affairs.
The two offices were supported by the European Union, UKaid, UNDP, IRI, the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru.
But what was meant to be a local soul-searching gathering became an international forum following representations from embassies and other diplomatic organisations, many of which have been curious about the polls.
After about hours of discussions amid tight security at Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Abuja, the presidential candidates signed a five-point covenant, which was read to the audience by a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who chaired the workshop.
The accord reads: “We, the undersigned presidential candidates of the under listed political parties contesting the general election of 2015, desirous of taking proactive measures to prevent electoral violence before, during and after the elections; anxious about the maintenance of a peaceful environment for the 2015 general elections, reaffirming our commitment to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; desirous of promoting the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity; determined to avoid any conduct or behaviour that will endanger the political stability and national security of Nigeria; determined to place national interest above personal and partisan concern; reaffirming our commitment to fully abide by all rules and regulations as laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria hereby submit ourselves and our parties to the following:
1. To run issue-based campaigns at national states and local government levels. In this, we pledge to refrain from campaigns that will involve religious sentiment, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our name.
2. To refrain from making or causing to make in our names or that of our parties any public statement, pronouncement, declaration or speeches that have the capacity to incite any form of violence before, during and after the elections.
3. To forcefully and publicly speak out against provocative utterances and oppose all acts of electoral violence whether perpetuated by our supporters and, or opponents.
4. To commit ourselves and political parties to the monitoring of the adherence of this accord, if necessary, by a national peace committee made up of respected statesmen and women, traditional and religious leaders.
5. All the institutions of government, including INEC and security agencies, must act and be seen to act with impartiality.
Anyaoku said the objective of the workshop was to give all the contestants an opportunity for constructive criticism on how to ensure violence-free elections.
He said: “Regrettably, we cannot deny that in our country we have history of violence occurring before, during and after elections.
“Already, explosion, burning of buses have been reported in some states, and we are also witnessing increasingly acrimonious pronouncement by candidates and spokes persons of political parties.”
He said the workshop was necessary before it became too late.
He said: “Nigeria and its 2015 general elections are in the eye of international community.”
A former United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, in a keynote address, urged the aspirants to avoid inflammatory statements as the elections would afford the country the opportunity to “prove itself before the international community”.
He said with the strategic position of Nigeria in Africa, it cannot afford to get it wrong.
Annan urged all political parties to take the agreement seriously.
He said: “We are interested in Nigeria because it is the big brother of our region. What happens in Nigeria affects us all, not just in West Africa but Africa as a whole. I am also pleased that both main parties are participating in this responsible initiative.
“I understand that you would be signing an accord on the prevention of violence, and this is laudable. I know that a Code of Conduct will precipitate peace, even though I am told it is always more in breach than in observance. I urge both parties, all parties, to take the accord serious.
“Signing agreement between political parties will reassure Nigerians and their foreign friends, who are concerned about the tension, election-related violence. As I said, what happens in Nigeria assumes consequences, above all for the Nigerian people but also for the region and indeed for the continent.
If Nigeria does well, the region as a whole does well. But the reverse is also true.
Nigeria is also a major actor on the international scene, not only does it host the regional intergovernmental body ECOWAS, it is a major contributor to the UN peace-keeping force and Nigeria currently sits at the UN Security Council.
“Now, Nigeria faces the real political test for its future, progress and posterity. First the barbaric insurgency of Boko Haram must be ended. There seems to be no limit the sect is ready to do to instill fears and intimidate everybody. They cannot succeed. We must protect our position of tolerance reconciliation and
“The second great challenge is the forthcoming election and the third is the fall in oil prices and its impact on the economy.”
He said elections had become flashpoints in many countries and Nigeria must watch.
Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, said the success of the poll depend on three critical elements.
“First, the technical competence of INEC. I think that has been demonstrated.
“The second concern is security. The security agencies and INEC should provide security and sense of fairness to all the stakeholders. The security agencies, which are supporting the elections: the police and the military must accept that their roles are to facilitate.
“The third and, most importantly, the contestants themselves will have to accept the rules of the game and to educate their supporters not to encourage against violence. These three elements will be what will, in my view, lead to free and fair, credible elections in Nigeria.”
At the session were APC President Jonathan, Gen. Buhari, ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, PDP National Chairman Adamu Muazu, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Ben Obi, General Isaac Obiakor, Chief Tom Ikimi and Chief Ojo Maduekwe.
Other presidential candidates present included Chief Chekwas Okorie (Unity Progressive Party), Prof Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya (Kowa Party), Tunde Anifowoshe Kilani (Action Alliance), Rafiu Salau ( Alliance for Democracy), Godson Okoye (Unity Democratic Party) and Gani Oseni Galadima (Alliance Congress Party of Nigeria).
