Abdulsalami: Political actors haven't learnt any lessons

• Published date: 21 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee yesterday expressed displeasure at the conduct of political actors ahead of next month's elections, saying it appeared they have not learnt any lessons from the past.

The former military head of state spoke during a one-day roundtable meeting his committee had with the leadership of the nation's 18 registered political parties and their presidential candidates.

Abdulsalami, who was in the company of his co-convener, Bishop Mathew Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa'aad, said many Nigerians are feeling the heat now being generated by the political class.

'Nigerians are genuinely concerned, troubled and disappointed by the conduct and attitude of some of the political actors in the last few weeks. Nigerians have been fed a menu of intemperate language, intimidation and outright violence in the field of the campaigns,' he said.

Continuing, he said:'It is evident that some of our actors have not learnt any lessons from the past. There is an increasing tone of desperation, if not incitement, among some of the contestants and members of their parties.

'Intra and inter-party wrangling persist, with occasions of violence. In desperation, some selfish political actors use these strategies to pursue their frivolous ambitions in the courts.'

He reminded the political leaders that the peace accord decently signed by party chairmen was binding on them, adding that they were also expected to have infused a sense of decency, civility and nobility in their political process.

'The political actors cannot pretend to be oblivious of the content of the Peace Accord that they signed. Nigerians expect that as men and women of honour, they were committed to keeping their word.'

Shedding light on the roundtable meeting, the former military leader said: 'The purpose of this initiative by the Peace Committee is to build up the confidence of our people in the electoral process and to ensure that we do all that is possible to ensure that these very crucial elections are successful.

'We intend to hear from the presidential aspirants themselves and see how we can rally all our people to ensure that all citizens can elect the leaders of their choice.

'It is impossible to have all contestants in one room and so, we hope that whatever we discuss here affects all contestants in these elections,' the NPC Chairman said.

He recalled that on the 29th of September 2022, the committee invited them to the signing the Peace Accord at the...