A former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Monday in Abuja met with the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, warning that the 2011 post-election violence should not be repeated in 2015.
He spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of National Peace Committee on 2015 Elections which was convened by the Founder, Kukah Centre for Faith and Leadership Research, Bishop Mathew Kukah.
The committee was formed to ensure full compliance with the Peace Accord signed by President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and his closest rival, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
The PUNCH reports the meeting also had in attendance representatives of various political parties and religious leaders.
Apart from Abubakar, other members of the committee are businessman Aliko Dangote; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.), Cardinal John Onaiyekan; Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, Alhaji Muhammad Musdafa; Primate of Anglican Church, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh; President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Justice Rose Ukeje.
Others are Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the 2014 National Conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi; Prof. Ameze Guobadia, Prof. Zainab Alkali, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Pemu-Amuka; Kukah and a former President of Nigerian Bar Association, Dame Priscilla Kuye.
The ex-Head of State said, “Any Nigerian who loves this country must preach peace. There is apprehension and there is no need for that. Nigerians, please, I beg you, learn from the former mistakes. We must ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
“We must ensure that the February elections are peaceful and secure.
“I am very happy that the contestants in the forthcoming Presidential elections have signed a peace accord and I expect that they follow up in keeping up with this agreement.
“We all have roles to play. The media has a role to play in ensuring that they preach peace. People tend to believe in what they read. Avoid sensational stories and help preach peace to our people.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Bade, had earlier said the military was prepared to assist the police and other civil authorities in providing security before, during and after the polls.
On his part, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, also promised to support the police and other civil authorities during the elections.
In his remarks, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun said, “We have commenced the airlift of materials needed for the elections starting from Abuja. We have a lot of unmanned airports in Nigeria, we have deployed our men to man these airfields and should there be saboteurs, it will be difficult for them to bring in illegal materials into the country.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba said, “The support to civil authorities by the military is provided in the constitution. The military has the responsibility to support civil authorities in providing security. That is why they need to strengthen the civil security agencies during the election. In some of the areas identified as flash points, we will invite the military to assist. But it will not include the polling boots. The police will continue to conduct its role in ensuring there is law and order in the country.”
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