COMMUNIQUE

suspected to be behind these heinous acts. Previous political assassinations were not thoroughly investigated, not to talk of punishing the agents and masterminds of such criminal acts. There are fears that with 2015 around the corner, the era of political assassinations may have returned.

6. Politicians engage in acts of impunity because they assume that Nigerians don’t have the capacity to engage in civil disobedience long enough to bring down a government. Secondly, politicians believe that the military can no longer take over power because it’s no longer fashionable across the globe. Thirdly, the judiciary is at the beck and call of government. At the heart of it all is the fact that some incumbent rulers want a democracy without elections. They want to remain in power for as long as they desire.

7. In Nigeria, it is not only politicians who are engaged in acts of impunity. Civil servants, heads of government agencies and chief executives in private concerns also engage in impunity. Also, there is enough evidence to prove that it is not only those in the Executive arm of government that engage in acts considered as impunity. In the two other arms of government: the Legislature and Judiciary, many actors violate rules and regulations with reckless abandon and yet go unpunished.

8. Also, actors in states and local governments do engage in acts of impunity. Ruling and opposition political parties across the country engage in acts of impunity. An example being the fact that in states where opposition parties are in power, politicians rig elections to maintain the status quo the same way that the ruling party at the centre is accused of rigging elections.

9. In order to secure the country’s democracy, all Nigerians should do what is right in accordance with the law. It is a collective struggle if democracy is to be strengthened beyond 2015 general elections.

10. There is need for further electoral reforms before the next elections. The ball is in the court of the National Assembly to review and amend the laws that make it easy for politicians to engage in acts of impunity.

11. Civil Society Organisations should do their bit to put government under pressure to frustrate impunity in Nigeria.

12. It is also very important to tackle the rise of ethnic militia and religious militancy e.g. Boko Haram before the next elections. Along this line, it is vital to invest in education and tackle poverty. Ignorance and poverty render youths vulnerable to the machinations of politicians who use them for criminal acts.

13. Nigerians should put all hands on deck to ensure that in 2015 the votes of everybody count.

14. The media should also play a vital role in checking impunity, by exposing various facets of impunity and their authors in every part of the country.

15. Media Trust Limited, the organisers of the dialogue was commended for raising topical issues for discourse in the last 11 years.