Akanbi to Jonathan, Buhari: Don't make election do or die affair
The pioneer chairman of ICPC justice Mustapha Akanbi has called on the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his All progressives Congress counterpart General Muhammed Buhari not to make the forth coming elections a do or die affair.
Justice Akanbi said this at the University of Ilorin while giving a remark at a book presentation in his honour.He said despite the accord or truce to eschew violence by political leaders, the atmosphere remains charged and tense and no one could predict with any degree of certainty what would become of this nation in the next nine days.
Justice Akambi added that it was not enough for them to sign a peace agreement but they must match their sweet talks with positive and honest actions and warn their agents and supporters to refrain from doing anything that would destroy the corporate existence of this nation.
He said "today, Nigeria is in a fix. We are indeed in the throes of momentous events. Our country is sadly on the brinks of the precipe. For never before in the annals of our political development have we found ourselves so divided, so disenchanted and disillusioned on grounds of religion, tribe, ethnicity, acrimony, political chicanery, divisive tendencies, and false pretences, all in the bid to gain political power by hook or crook.
"Today, the polity is over heated, uncouth and gutter language, indecorous speeches, ungentlemanly and un lady-like statements are daily being emitted by those who should know better and who ordinarily, the younger generation should look up to as leaders, exemplars, or role models".
"It is a sad commentary on our body politic that as we get closer to the election date, our politicians continue to dish out insulting and abusive language, fan the embers of violence, issue threats, and create fear and apprehension in the minds of the populace".
"The Nigerian nation is greater than all of us, Nigeria is greater than both Jonathan and Buhari. If we allow Nigeria to be destroyed by the actions and reactions of any of their self-seeking supporters, political jobbers, hangers on, thugs and irresponsible individuals, then the future of our children and babies yet unborn will be blighted; and history and future generation will not forgive us". He added.
He also advised politicians to borrow from what happened in the United States of America when Governor W. George Bush and Vice President Al Gore contested the United States presidential election, none of them made 'attempt to break or manipulate the law or ‘allow election to degenerate into personal issues'.
He said that it was a lesson we must all learn, if democracy and the rule of law must survive in this country.
Justice Akanbi also called on all to support the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega to make a success of his assignment and the election must hold adding that any attempt to scuttle it must be resisted by all Nigerians.
He said "The Jega I know is a nationalist and a true Nigerian. He is a patriot and a great nationalist. He is not a sectional leader or a tribalist. When he was President of ASUU he acquitted himself creditably. He should therefore be given a free hand to conduct a fraud free, fair, credible and non-violent election without any inhibition or molestation".
Justice Akanbi then called on all and sundry to participate in the forth coming general elections and vote for the candidate of their choice.
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