Nigerians disappointed by conduct of political actors – Abdulsalami

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, says the conduct of political actors ahead of next month’s elections is worrisome.

Indeed, he said it appeared they had not learnt any lessons from the past.

Abdulsalami spoke during a one-day roundtable meeting the National Peace Committee had with the leadership of the nation’s 18 registered political parties and their presidential candidates.

Abdulsalami, who was in the company with his co-convener, Bishop Mathew Kukah, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’aad, said many Nigerians were feeling the heat being generated by the political class.

“Nigerians are genuinely concerned, troubled and disappointed by the conduct and attitude of some of the political actors in the last few weeks. Nigerians have been fed a menu of intemperate language, intimidation and outright violence in the field of the campaigns,” he said.

 

Continuing, he said:”It is evident that some of our actors have not learnt any lessons from the past. There is an increasing tone of desperation, if not incitement, among some of the contestants and members of their parties.

“Intra and inter-party wrangling persist, with occasions of violence. In desperation, some selfish political actors use these strategies to pursue their frivolous ambitions in the courts.”

 

He reminded the political leaders that the peace accord decently signed by party chairmen was binding on them, adding that they were also expected to have infused a sense of decency, civility and nobility in their political process.

 

“The political actors cannot pretend to be oblivious of the content of the Peace Accord that they signed. Nigerians expect that as men and women of honour, they were committed to keeping their word.”

The former military leader also said, “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.

“We intend to hear from the presidential aspirants themselves and see how we can rally all our people to ensure that all citizens can elect the leaders of their choice.

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

He recalled that on the 29th of September 2022, the committee invited them to the signing the Peace Accord at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

He said, “You may also recall that we placed advertisements in all major newspapers and 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.”

He said that the meeting was not to listen to accusations and counter-accusations, neither was it to trade blame but to raise issues and concerns so that the forum can explore the best means of resolving the concerns.

He urged them 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.”

He also said, “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. We hope that you can raise your areas of concern and let us see what can be done to instill confidence in this process.”

Just before the commencement of the meeting, there was a mild drama when the Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, protested the sitting arrangement.

It took Abdulsalami several minutes to calm him down and to take his seat after threatening to remain standing or leave the meeting if the NPC did not give assurance that there would not be a repeat.

“The sitting arrangements should have been alphabetical, I note that this happened at the ICC during the signing of the peace accord and this is not fair,” he said.

Abdulsalami said the complaint had been noted, but he said Sowore could leave if he was still not satisfied.

Presidential candidates at the meeting included Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC); Dr. Ifeanyu Okowa, vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Al-Mustapha Hamza of Action Alliance (AA); Sowore Omoyele; Sani Yabagi Yusuf, Action Democratic Party (ADP); and Dr. Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).