Shun Electoral Violence, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Urges Stakeholders

Akinyemi advises Nigerians to welcome foreign observers

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) has identified peaceful elections as panacea for growth and development that must be rigorously pursued, and urged the government and other stakeholders to avoid post-election crisis after the forthcoming polls.

This was the conclusion of a one-day conference on ‘Peaceful Elections and National Development’ held last Thursday in Abuja.

Also, a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has warned against violence in the forthcoming elections and urged Nigerians to welcome foreign observers to monitor the elections.

According to the communiqué released yesterday, the participants at the Conference chaired by former Head of State of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), called on stakeholders in the general election in Nigeria to play by the rules and avoid utterances and actions that may precipitate violence.

The group also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies on the need to be professional and non-partisan in the performance of their duties.

“The government of Nigeria should ensure the security of lives and property as enshrined in the nation’s 1999 constitution before, during and after the 2019 general election.

“African leaders and politicians should refrain from labelling opponents as liars, looters and enemies, as such unsubstantiated name-calling could trigger violent reactions. Efforts should be made by national governments, civil society organisations and community leaders in Africa to prevent post-election crises;

“Regional and sub-regional organisations like the African Union and ECOWAS should encourage and promote good governance by establishing a reward system for exemplary leaders in Africa,” the communiqué reads.

While participant were unanimous in their agreement that inclusive and peoplecentred leadership should be the focus of national governments in order to mainstream peacebuilding in the course of governance, having underscored the nexus of violent conflicts and underdevelopment, African leaders were also advised to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.

The communiqué urged the foundation itself to leverage on the vision of its founder, former Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in developing programmes to promote the conduct of peaceful elections and democratic consolidation in Africa.

The well-attended event attracted 550 participants, which included former heads of state, members of the diplomatic community, development partners, the ECOWAS Commission, Nigeria Police Force, academia, civil society organisations, media, women and youth leaders.

The conference theme, which underscored the link between peace and national development, was applauded as timely, given that the Nigerian Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in a few days.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, has warned against violence in the forthcoming elections.

Akinyemi in a statement yesterday, appealed to political leaders and their supporters to shun violence, hate speeches and be committed to ensuring credible elections.

He also advised Nigerians to welcome foreign election observers as against the suspicion that they would interfere with the outcome of the elections.

Specifically, Akinyemi warned against a repeat of what happened during the 1964 parliamentary elections.

“Since I have been monitoring elections in Nigeria, I cannot remember any elections that filled me with so much dread and trepidation as these forthcoming elections. Not even the riotous 1965 federal elections. And we all know what that led to,” he said.

“As a scholar in international relations, I cannot but bring to the attention of Nigerians the significance of the latest development in Venezuela where the international community under the United States has accorded recognition to the opposition leader as the alternative president as their reaction to what it perceives as a flawed election.