Stop Heating Up Polity, Abdulsalami Tells Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Others

KANO – The National Peace Commission (NPC) has subjected presidential candidates and their political parties to fresh commitment to the peace pact they earlier signed ahead of the polls.

This is just as co-chairman of the peace committee and former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, appealed to the 18 presidential candidates to stop overheating the polity and causing tension in the country.

Abdulsalami stated this recently during a one-day roundtable meeting of the peace committee with the leadership of the nation’s 18 registered political parties and their presidential candidates.

The former Nigerian leader had on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 told politicians to restrain from their utterances in order not to incite violence in the coming general elections.

Abdulsalami who spoke in Kano where eight political parties and their candidates signed a peace accord noted that Nigerians are disturbed over the likely outcome of the forthcoming 2023 general elections due to their fear that the polls might be inconclusive and marred by violence.

He urged the candidates to stick to issues-based campaigns and refrain from mudslinging and other inciting comments that heat up the polity.

It would be recalled that the warning from the former head of state came amid the incessant backlash and lash back among presidential candidates, particularly the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The two presidential hopefuls have been at loggerheads since the commencement of the campaigns for the 2023 polls, attacking themselves with incisive vituperations in the ongoing credibility battle.

It was gathered that members of the peace committee took time to listen to the candidates and the issues causing the acrimony among them, and urged them to sheathe their swords.

At the meeting with the candidates and national chairmen of their parties, Abdulsalami said Nigerians must be free to be able to elect the leaders of their choice.
Before the meeting went into a closed session, Abdulsalami said, “Our intention is to hear from the presidential aspirants themselves and see how we can rally all our people to ensure that all citizens are able to elect the leaders of their choice.

His words, “It is impossible to have all contestants into one room and so, we hope that whatever we discuss here affects all contestants in these elections.

“On the 29th September 2022, the NPC invited all the presidential candidates and they all signed a Peace Accord at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, but the verbal war between the presidential candidates has been heating up the polity.

“You may also recall that we placed advertisements in all major newspapers and the social media calling on all presidential candidates to be mindful of the concerns of Nigerians, on such issues are the need to use temperate language, avoid raising the tone of violence and to conduct themselves in a manner that does not undermine the electoral process.”

Abdulsalami stated further that the meeting was to listen to the accusations and counter accusations.

“We are not here to trade blame, but to raise issues and concerns so that the forum can explore the best means of resolving the concerns.

“I appeal to you all to be moderate in your language, show respect to the views and concerns of one another and listen to the concerns expressed. We are not here to find out who is wrong, but what is wrong and to see how to correct it.

“We are pleased that there are measurable improvements, and that INEC is assuring us that it has resolved some of the areas that have often caused violence.

“The security agencies have also continued to give us assurances. Our hope is that you can raise your areas of concerns and let us see what can be done to instill confidence in this process,” he said.

Abdulsalami who also urged Nigerians to take the forthcoming general elections seriously said it would be the only way they can contribute to its success.

The NPC boss said, “I want to appeal to all Nigerians to appreciate the seriousness and significance of these elections. We have gone through many difficulties and survived them.

“The purpose of this initiative by the peace committee is to build up the confidence of our people in the electoral process and to ensure that we do all that is possible to ensure that these very crucial elections are successful.”