President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari embraced each other in Abuja Thursday (today) at the 2015 Elections Sensitization Workshop on Non-Violence organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser and SA to Mr. President on inter-party affairs. Courtesy: Premium Times
The presidential candidates of the two main political parties in the country have again committed themselves to eschew acts capable of fueling vioelence during and after the Saturday elections.
President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the General Muhammad Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress, who are meeting for the first time January 14, 2015 when the met to sign a similar accord, on Thursday met in Abuja to signanother peace accord.
The accord was initiated by the National Peace Committee led by former Head of State Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd).
In the agreement, just like the one they signed on January 14, the contenders made undertaking to avoid actions that could promote violence during and after the polls
Abubakar supervised the signing of Thurday’s pact.
The agreement signing ceremony held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel and the presidential candidates were accompanied to the venue by the national chairmen of their parties: Adamu Muazu [PDP] and John Oyegun [APC].
The two leading candidates had on January 14, at another event attended by former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Anan, and former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, openly spoke against violence and committed to a peaceful poll.
Other political parties that signed the January 14 non-violence pact included the Action Alliance, AA, Alliance for Democracy, AD, United Democratic Party, UDP, United Progressive Party, UPP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and Hope Democratic Party, HDP.
THere are palpable fears among Nigerians that the elections, which have seen the most virulent campaigns in Nigeria’s history, with ethnographic-religious freely canvassed would spawn violence, whichever victory goes.
In 2011, more than 800 persons were killed and tens of thousands displaced in the aftermath of post-election violence.
