Press Release - 2015 Polls: Council of the Wise charges media and other stakeholders on peaceful elections.

Barely one week to the 2015 national elections, some eminent Nigerians under the aegis of the Savannah Centre ‘Council of the Wise’ Panel have urged all electoral stakeholders to embrace peace and shun unnationalistic agenda in order to ensure free, fair and credible polls which will enhance Nigeria’s democracy and development..
Addressing newsmen in Lagos, recently, the coordinator of the Council, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, said that the responsibility of delivering free, fair and transparent polls lies with all stakeholders. .
‘Everyone will be a looser if there are no credible, free and fair elections. INEC alone cannot guarantee free and fair election. They are just the referee, so everyone has a role to play’..
Gambari charged the media to live up its expectation of upholding public truth and social justice and refrain from being partisan..
“One of the things we are particular about is the avoidance of hate speeches and incitement. And that is why the role of the media in the run up to the election is very critical. The media should not allow themselves to be used for destabilization and to provoke violence.’.
“The role of the media is to get candidates to address issues and not to use their role to promote hate speech of any kind” he said..
A member of the Council, Professor George Obiozor” stressed that the conduct of peaceful and transparent polls will enhance Nigeria’s democracy and development while earning the country more respect within the global community..
“Peaceful election is in everybody’s interest. For the politician it is important that the election is credible, for citizens, it is important that it is legitimate, free and fair; and for the nation it promotes the dignity of the nation and promotes development.”.
In achieving its mandate of promoting peaceful polls, the Council of the Wise has held series of engagements with various electoral stakeholders across the country including former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari; INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega; National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; Governors of Niger, Sokoto, Adamawa and Lagos as well as key traditional and religious leaders..
The ‘Council of the Wise’ Panel on the 2015 General Elections is a 9-person committee of eminent Nigerians constituted by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, with representation across various sectors and the six geopolitical zones of the country..
The Council is chaired by the Former Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais with Professor Ibrahim Gambari, CFR as the Principal Coordinator. Other members of the Council include: Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Lemu, Bishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, Ms. Joke Silva, Ambassador Brownson Dede, Professor George Obiozor, Professor Agwu Okali and Ambassador Usman Gaji Galtimari.


Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Moses Rahman Popoola Saba Mamman Daniel Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment Siraj Oyewale Harrison Osauwagboe Fatai Olodo Opolo Global Innovation Limited Ajuloopin Oniyangi GRA Baba Isale Adekunle David Dunmade Ajibola Saliu Ajia Abdulquowiyu Olododo Christian Association Of Nigeria Isin Gobirawa Shururat Olatinwo Babs Iwarere Olajumoke Monsura Gafar Salihu Alhaji Musa Biliaminu Aliu Yusuf A. Usman Musa Alhassan Buge Taofeeq Olateju Tafida Of Kaiama Saka Balikis Kehinde KWASIEC Ilorin.Info Moshood Mustapha Lanre Badmas Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao Ishaq Salman Ibrahim Sulu Gambari Medview Airlines Ahman Patigi Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development Bola Ahmed Tinubu Bankole Omisore Laolu Saraki Shola Odetundun Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu Muhammad Yahya Magaji Nda Olofa Of Offa Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu Harmony Holdings Riskat Opakunle Women Radio Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran Rueben Parejo Iyabo Dupe Adekeye Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Jimba Babatunde Convocation Ceremonies Wahab Issa Galadiman Ngeri Adeniyi Ojo Bilikisu Oniyangi Olokoba Sulyman NIPR Saka Abimbola Isau Moses Afolayan S.O. Opowoye UNIFEMGA Isiaq Khadeejah Adeola Abraham Voices Of Tomorrow AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro Patigi Regatta Sulyman Tejidini Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road College Of Education Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication Folajimi Aleshinloye Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola

