Onaiyekan, Sultan Express Fear Over Election Violence

Barely nine days to Nigeria’s general elections, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and Catholic Archbishop of Metropolitan John Cardinal Onaiyekan, have expressed anxiety over the impending violence that would accompany the outcome of the polls.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and Catholic Archbishop of Metropolitan John Cardinal Onaiyekan

ThisDay reports that the two prominent religious leaders on Monday unveiled their worries following the signboards of intolerance and violence that have characterised the campaigns.

Speaking in Abuja, the religious leaders while condemning the recent acts of violence witnessed during campaign rallies, especially the stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in the North, they said it has become obvious that the forthcoming general elections might spell doom for the country unless urgent steps are taken to curb it.

According to the two leaders, the political atmosphere of the country is tensed, noting that it would be foolish for anybody to show blind eyes to the glaring realities accompanied by violence and intolerance ahead of the polls.

The duo further pointed out that political leaders must go beyond promises and pledges and call their followers to order following the tension-soaked political atmosphere.

The religious leaders also urged the two leading presidential candidates, President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari to accept the outcome of the election in good faith, adding that the era when a winner took it all was over.

They also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make sure that the elections are free, fair and creditable in order to avoid post-election violence.

“We all know that religious leaders are the conscience of the nation. Our desire to come out and speak at this time should be well passed to every nook and cranny of this country. We are all human beings first before we are called Muslims and Christians. Both religions appreciate the sanctity of life. We have always condemned the activities of insurgents. We will continue to do that until there is no more insurgency in the country. We are really worried about what is happening. As religious leaders, we cannot keep quiet. We cannot pretend and say everything is okay. Everything is not okay.

 We are worried about what we are seeing in various campaigns and rallies. We are joining our voices and calling on everyone to ensure there is peace. We must ensure we protect this peace. We must see the elections as one of the challenges that will strengthen us. It should make us better. We call on all Nigerians to come together and ensure we have free, fair and transparent elections. We call on INEC to have the fear of God. We want to see a situation where when the results are announced, the loser will embrace the winner. It is not going to be a winner takes it all approach. I wish we could have a law where those candidates can be compelled to produce a list of their cabinet members so that we will know the kind on people we are voting into power. That will enable us vote wisely. We know as Muslims, Islam is a religion of peace. We must respect Christians. Nobody should be allowed to use religion to divide us. God cannot be wrong to have brought us together. If we live in peace, we will get to the promised land soon. We call on politicians of all parties to allow us stay together and live in peace. Onaiyekan and I believe in peace and in common course. 

Politicians and leaders must be open to their followers. You must feel the pulse of your followers. We must call on politicians who control party followers. They must ensure they control them. There must not be violence. That is our clarion call,” Sultan said.

On the other hand, Cardinal Onaiyekan, who spoke at the Abuja Peace Accord on the need to make sure that the terms of agreements are followed by the two leading presidential candidates.

“We call on all contestants to respect both in letter and spirit the ‘Abuja Accord’ which they have signed in the presence of God and men. They should play by the rule. Let the people decide in free and fair elections who will lead them. It is God’s will that will organise our human society in good order under the authority of a government. Rulers must therefore respect God’s laws and run our affairs, including the conduct of elections with integrity and utmost honesty. We citizens, on our part, must respect the just orders of duly constituted civil authorities. Our special and passionate appeal goes to government and its agents charged with ensuring free, fair and peaceful elections, especially INEC and the security agencies. Do your duty well, with no bias for or against anyone. Yours is a sacred duty that is crucial for the well-being of our nation, for which you will be accountable to God for blessings or otherwise,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said.

The two religious leaders, who spoke under the auspices of Interfaith Initiative for Peace, also expressed their reservation on the predicament of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have been compelled to abandon their houses because of the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the northeast.

The spiritual fathers urged INEC to make sure that needed arrangements were made and implemented to ensure that all internally displaced persons (IDPs) are able to exercise their franchise in the February elections.

“To this end, the delivery of a free, fair and credible election will, in our view, go a long way in ensuring that Nigeria remains one united country,  gets over its challenges and become an even stronger nation,” they said.

Meanwhile, contrary to the fear expressed by these two prominent religious leaders over impending post-election violence, the founder of the Al-Mustoffiyya Islamic Society of Nigeria, Ustaz Maisuna M. Yahaya, has advised residents of the FCT and other parts of the country not to relocate because of possible post election violence.