”On our part, in addition to other efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful election, we pledge to accept the result of an election that is not only free, fair,
credible and transparent, but one that is also seen to be so. We hope other parties will make a similar pledge.”
These were the pledges made today by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
It assured Nigerians and the international community that it will do all in its power to make sure that the 2015 general election is violence-free, adding that the rising apprehension about the polls among the populace is inimical to the conduct of a successful election.
In a statement issued in Lagos today by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party, however, wanted the PDP-led federal government, which has a propensity for using the security agencies to harass and intimidate the opposition and ordinary citizens to follow suit.
APC asked the federal government to take all measures necessary to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible, since rigging and other acts of electoral malpractices constitute the immediate trigger for anger and violence during and after elections.
”We have heard from Nigerians who are so afraid about possible violence during the forthcoming election that they are even willing to relocate to other countries until after the elections. But, as the biggest opposition party in Nigeria and a major stakeholder in our nation’s democracy, we are assuring, on our part, that there will be no violence.
”Though our party has no history of violence, we have commenced a nationwide effort to sensitize our members and supporters to the need to eschew rancour and embrace non-violent methods, even in the face of the kind of provocations to which we were subjected during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, when our members were needlessly harassed, arrested and detained by partisan security agencies acting under orders from the federal government.
”If the federal government allows a level playing field for all contestants, if the security agencies stop acting as the armed wing of the ruling PDP, if the electoral umpire will carry out its duties without fear, favour or bias and if citizens are allowed to exercise their franchise unmolested, the stage will be set for a non-violent, free, fair and credible polls. In other words, the government has a major role to play in making the forthcoming polls peaceful.”

[myad]

Former Nigerian Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, today, had a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said means well for this country.
Babangidan, who received President Jonathan in his Minna, Niger state country home today, told newsmen after the meeting: “what I will say is simple: the President means well for this country and he is working well for this country.
“Anybody who means well for this country should support the President to make sure that Nigeria survives as a united country.”
Accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd.); his Chief of Staff, General Jones Arogbofa (rtd.); Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Muhammed; former Governor Peter Obi and Senator Ahmadu Ali among others, President Jonathan also told news men that his visit was in the spirit of the Christmas and New Year festivities and also to commiserate with him on his recent return from overseas medical treatment.
“First and foremost, I have to use this opportunity to appreciate our leader, President Babangida for his leadership. His commitment to ensuring that this country is united and we leave in peace.
“Of course, you know that this is the end of the year. Within this period, people pay visits. So I have come to visit him. “You know he just came back from a hospital abroad, not too long ago. Since he came back, we have not seen. I need to see my father to know how he is feeling. I am quite pleased the way I have seen him.”
President Jonathan linked his visit too to the security challenges facing Nigeria, which he said, is not only Boko Haram in the North but also the South that is not safe as a result of commercial kidnapping and robbery.
“He (Babangida) is one of our experienced leaders. As somebody who is sitting where he was before, I need to see them from time to time to listen to their suggestions. That is one of the areas how we can collectively move the country forward and ensure that Nigerians live in peace.
“That is the key thing and I am quite pleased that we had fruitful discussion.” [myad]

More than 200 Muslim youth volunteers were said to have gone out today to protect Christians during church services to celebrate this year’s Christmas in Kaduna.

Pastor Yohanna Buru of Christ Evangelical Church, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna South who made this known to newsmen today in Kaduna said that the Muslims were at his church to help protect the faithful from any attack during the church service.

According to him, the feat is the first of its kind after the series of crises that rocked the state in recent past.
“I really appreciate their love and care,’’ said the cleric.

Buru said the essence of that was to protect the Christian worshippers as part of effort to strengthen peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the state.

The pastor expressed happiness over the protection given to them by the Muslim brothers.

He noted that the initiative was an indication that peace has come to stay in the state, saying the measure will strengthen a lasting peace between the two religions.

He also prayed to God to continue to bring peace in the country, praying that other citizens would emulate the gesture.

He urged Nigerians to learn to live in peace with one another irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.
The cleric said that peace was a major panacea to the positive development of any nation. [myad]