Political Gladiators Urged To Be Mindful Of Overheating The Polity

By Development Diaries

Ahead of Nigeria's 2015 general elections, Political Gladiators from the two main Political Parties in the country have been urged to give peace a chance by placing national interests above narrow interests towards the development of the country's democracy.

This charge was given by the Former Nigerian Ambassador to Chad and the Executive Director of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Abdullahi A. Omaki.

The Executive Director appealed to all the political parties, their leaders, members and supporters to continue to have faith in the spirit and content of the Abuja Accord and give peace a chance. The Savannah Centre also commends three Political Parties in Rivers State (APC, PDP and LP) for reportedly reaching understanding for a peaceful election and urged them to go beyond that to create a level-playing field by accommodating each other to have equal access to public places for campaigns.

He however noted with regrets that in spite of the Abuja Accord, some party members and their supporters have not refrained from the use of inflammatory and highly divisive language, including personal attacks rather than focusing on substantive issues. Political parties, their leaders and supporters are enjoined to refrain from all actions and utterances capable of compounding political tension and engendering violence in the country at this critical time.

The Centre similarly expressed grave concerns on the hullabaloo regarding the personal views and suggestion by the National Security Adviser, Mohammed SamboDasuki and stressed that the NSA's views should not have been given interpretations beyond what the NSA clearly stated.

The Executive Director stressed that Savannah Centre is worried by the lack of dispassionate discourse based on full facts rather than innuendoes which clearly can precipitate undesirable consequences for our people across the country.

The Savannah Centre re-iterates its earlier advocacy for violence-free, fair and credible elections that can deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians as well as project a better image of the Country to the wider international community.

The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development a non- governmental think-tank committed to policy advocacy and analysis in the three thematic areas of diplomacy, democracy and development.