A coalition of civil society organisations has condemned the rhetorics of some politicians and have called on aggrieved politicians to stick to legal process in pursuit of their mandate aftermath of the 2023 general election.
The Executive Director,
Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, and Executive Director,
Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Convener, Nigerian Peace Advocates, Comrade Mulade Sheriff, made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to them, the reactions following the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, have taking some strange dimensions.
He said they have recognised the conspiracy of some evilly minded and selfish people, had since shown the level of their political desperation, and have since started submitting themselves to the dictates of some hidden interest, to destabilize the country.
Therefore, they noted as representatives of non-partisan civil society organizations across the six geo political zones in the country, who have worked for years in the promotion of democracy, peace and development, they are worried with the unfolding political happenings in the country, through the actions and inactions of some politicians.
“We wish to unequivocally condemn all advocacies for the establishment of interim Government in Nigeria.
“We condemn all utterances and unguarded statements promoted directly or through proxy by any politician or religious leader along ethnic, regional or religious sentiment capable of inciting violence in Nigeria, especially at this critical period of our democratic transition.
“That, all media organizations should further exercise restraint in the interest of peace and national unity on all broadcast that may create confusion and or aggravate our fragile security situation, by x – raying all content before airing to avoid Rwanda experience in Nigeria.
“That Nigerians should not fall into a trap of any sentiments to serve the interest of any desperate and greedy political leaders.
“That, all aggrieved politicians should stick to legal process for redress as provided by our legal system, and should desist from threatening, intimidating and discrediting the same system he or she is seeking to serve.
“That, International Organizations and Communities should exercise restraint in submitting to the sentiments of some politicians, who are hell bent on destabilizing the country, as Nigeria direly needs the support of its friends at this critical time of transition, to salvage our nascent democracy in the interest of Africa’s stability and the World at large.
“That, we strongly urge and advise the incoming administration to run an all-inclusive government to give a sense of belonging to every region, ethnic, religious and political affiliations,” he stated.
