Traditional and religious leaders have warned lawmakers to abstain from actions that could throw the nation into crisis as the election campaign gets underway this week.
Additionally, candidates and their supporters were urged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to follow the law.
Issue-based campaigns, according to the umpire, are necessary for secure elections.
Nigerians anticipate neutrality from INEC and the media throughout the election campaign.
Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Rev. Daniel Okoh, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), pleaded with Nigerians, especially religious leaders, to refrain from making rash statements that could destabilize the political system.
Speaking during the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) third quarter meeting in 2022 at the Lagos Continental Hotel in Victoria Island were Sultan Abubakar and Rev. Okoh. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, both attended the event, which had the subject “Working Together for Justice and Peace.”
The responsibility of religious leaders, according to Abubakar, who is also co-Chair of NIREC and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), “is to be equitable and fair to earn the people’s trust.”
He exhorted both Muslims and Christians to work for justice and peace.
Additionally, Abubakar begged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end its continuing strike in accordance with the court’s directive.
He encouraged the government and ASUU to put the needs of the young people above their conflicts.
When it comes to the general elections in 2023, Okoh, who serves as co-chair of NIREC, encouraged Nigerians to “embrace peace, cease inciting remarks, live in peaceful coexistence with one another, be accountable, elect leaders with capacity, shun tribal attitudes, among other vices.”
He said: “As we prepare for the 2023 general election, it is important that we guard our action and utterances as leaders. We must not be seen as fanning the embers of hate and disunity, encouraging political violence, or attempting to divide the populace along tribal or religion lines.
“As part of NIREC’s intervention to maintain peace at all time, 60 youths representing both faiths are already gathered in Lagos, in this particular hall, for their conference. It is my hope that the outcome of their conference will include strategies to curb youth restiveness and dangers of pre and post-election violence.”
Dr. Maurice Mbaeri, who spoke on behalf of Mustapha, asked religious leaders to promote harmony and peace.
Religious and traditional leaders were exhorted by Sanwo-Olu to work to advance Nigerian unity, peace, justice, and calm. He claimed that encouraging harmony, cooperation, justice, and peace would encourage peaceful cohabitation among the populace.
Sanwo-Olu added: “We have a responsibility today, tomorrow and in years to come, to ensure we do not fall our nation with our own hands. I believe with interventions like this, Nigeria will not be put to shame. I am hoping the conversation, decision and discussions at this NIREC meeting will further strengthen that thing that we all swore to – justice, peace and equity in this country.
“We are in a time that this country needs all of us, now more than ever before, and so, we should not allow hate speech. We cannot afford ethnic bigotry. We cannot afford to be divided. We are going into election; let us see the commitment and nationality in all of us.”
The summit, according to NIREC Executive Secretary Cornelius Omonokhua, was intended to alter the dominant narratives in Nigeria in order to establish justice and peace.
He said: ‘There is need for mental re-engineering, change of values, attitudes as well as radical emancipation to address the root of various calamities of national concerns’.
