Kofi Annan Warns Nigeria Against Election

Kofi Annan, Former United Nations secretary-general on Wednesday urged Nigeria to hold peaceful elections next month, warning that violence could be a set-back to progress across Africa.

Speaking at a conference in Abuja attended by President Goodluck Jonathan and main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, Annan said the impact of unrest could have far-reaching consequences.

“What happens in Nigeria affects us all, not just in West Africa but Africa as a whole,” he told delegates. “If Nigeria does well, the region as a whole does well. But the reverse is also true.”
Recent weeks have seen an increase in Boko Haram attacks, which analysts say is a further attempt by the Islamists to undermine the legitimacy of the secular government and the upcoming vote.
The International Crisis Group warned in November last year that an “increasingly violent” political climate and rhetoric from political parties must be checked to avoid widespread unrest.



Last time round in 2011, which was widely regarded as the cleanest since civilian rule was restored in 1999, nearly 1,000 people died in post-poll protests in the religiously divided central region.

The IGC said long-standing ethnic, religious and tribal tensions had not been resolved since, making the risks of violence “particularly high”.

Annan said a pledge of non-violence by all parties “will reassure Nigerians and foreign friends who are concerned about potential election-related violence”.
Candidates and their supporters needed to avoid a “win-at-all-costs” mentality but put the interests and concerns of voters first, he added.
Election-linked violence in places such as Kenya “put the country back years and hurt everybody”, he said, adding: “Nigeria doesn’t want to repeat that painful experience.”
“The world is watching. Nigeria’s success in forthcoming elections will be Africa’s success. Nigeria has the future of Africa in its hands,” said Annan.


Aiming to address a conference on elections being organised by a coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations, Annan will visit Nigeria between 12 and 14 January.

The Former Secretary-General will take part in the conference held on Tuesday, 13 January in Abuja. It is expected that Kofi Annan will deliver the speech based on his work as chairman of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security and the findings and recommendations of its report.