The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has cautioned the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) against taking sides in the
general elections.
In its New Year message yesterday, the
association urged government not to involve the military in the polls,
to prevent voter intimidation.
It also tasked the police, the
Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, and other security agencies not to
compromise standards by working for desperate politicians.
The
statement signed by Mr. Bayo Oladeji, media assistant to CAN President
Samson Ayokunle, reads in part: “The year 2019 is a crucial one to all
Nigerians because it is a year of general elections.
I therefore
urge all Nigerians to make sure they abide in peace without getting
involved in violence throughout the year, especially before, during and
after the elections.
“We should all distance ourselves from
electoral manipulations in whatever form. I urge politicians not to be
too desperate to be voted into power or get themselves involved in using
thugs to cause chaos or commit electoral fraud. Vote buying is evil;
all stakeholders should shun it.
“The military should not be
dragged into the electoral process. They should instead be allowed to
face their primary responsibilities. Voters should not be intimidated,
and election observers should not be harassed like we witnessed in
recent polls.
“INEC and their personnel should maintain
neutrality in their conduct throughout the elections. Let us remember
that without a free, fair and credible exercise, which will bring
credible leadership, the ‘dry bones’ of Nigeria will not rise again.”
This
was as the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of
Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, expressed concern over reports
that Boko Haram killed 700 Nigerian soldiers in Baga, Borno State.
She
also frowned at recent killings in Zamfara State, saying the security
situation in the country shows a lack of effective leadership by
President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Although the military and the
presidency have denied the reports but the serial credibility challenges
of the Buhari administration and the security team he leads as
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces have created public distrust of
any rebuttal by government. And that is gravely worrisome,” Ezekwesili
said in a statement yesterday.
She noted: “The only way to ensure
accuracy of the casualty that Nigeria is suffering as a result of
counter-terrorism at this stage is to inaugurate a citizens-led
independent investigation panel. Such an initiative would go a long way
to eliminate the opaqueness of the counter-terrorism war and restore
public confidence, as the case may be, in how the Buhari administration
is prosecuting it.
“This is demonstrated in the very troubling
inertia to decisively confront and end the frequent killings of our
citizens; especially our soldiers on the frontline of battle. The
killings have tragically earned Nigeria the designation of the 16th most
dangerous country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.
Nigeria is also the 15th most fragile country in the 2018 Fragile States
Index by the United States Fund for Peace.
“Tackling this will
require commencing a security discourse and planning, away from a narrow
focus on military responses, to a more collective and participative
conversation of the structure of the Nigerian state and our security
architecture.”
She promised: “Our ACPN administration would
without fail prioritise this. We would be responsive to current and
immediate challenges by revising the current containment measures to
ensure efficiency and include effective public communication on security
issues without compromising genuine national security concerns. We
would also bring citizens in, as participants in their own security,
through the establishment of local peace committees as part of the
national security architecture.”
The presidential candidate
added: “Within days of being inaugurated into office, our ACPN
administration would move swiftly to launch a coordinated response to
all acts of violence in regions that are vulnerable to attacks from
armed groups and concurrently commence a strong security sector reform
for professionalism, accountability and results-focus.”
The
Nigerian Army meanwhile has warned against “concerted efforts by some
unpatriotic elements” to politicise and derail the ongoing fight against
terrorism and insurgency in the country.
It also condemned what
it said were recycled Boko Haram propaganda video clips, old interviews
with soldiers, and inaccurate news reports.
“They are determined
to dampen troops’ morale especially in the northeast, so that the troops
would become compromised against the war efforts and complicate the
security situation in the country for selfish and cheap political gains
and expediency,” said a statement yesterday by Director Army Public
Relations, Brigadier General Sani Usman.
It added: “We would like
to reiterate that Nigeria is at war with Boko Haram terrorists, in any
form or guise that they may manifest, and strongly warn these subversive
elements to desist from these unwholesome efforts.
“We will
continue to monitor subversive propaganda and take necessary action
against perpetrators. The Nigerian Army will remain undaunted in the
successful prosecution of this war against terrorism, insurgents,
militants and bandits in the country.”
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