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.
Okin Biscuit Tunde Saad Lateef Fagbemi John Olajide Adedipe Ibrahim Abdullahi Ijagbo Kannike Bola Olukoju Bukola Ajikobi Ayo Adeyemi S.O. Opowoye Sarkin Malamai Oba Abdulrahim Lola Olabayo Sobi Hill Kwara 2023 Kwarareports.com Alliance For Democracy Durosinlohun Atiku Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment Aliyu Sabi Saliu Alamoyo Kwara Central Tunji Folami Sarah Jubril Sulyman Tejidini Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence Mohammed Khadijat Kubura Omoniyi Ayinla SUBEB Senate President Chief Imam Of Lafiagi Kulende Jimba Babatunde Oke-opin Bayo Onimago Olomu Of Omu-Aran Arinola Fatimoh Lawal Innocent Okoye Ilorin Likeminds Foundation Garba Idris Ajia Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem Muhammadu Gobir KWSUED Biliaminu Aliu Adesina Simon Sodiya Senior Ibrahim Suleiman MATTA Girls Foundation Ilorin Talaka Parapo Femi Agbaje Iponrin Gbemi Saraki Nigeria Governors\' Forum Kolawole Akande Yahaya A Paniyaro Agboola Babatunde Seni Saraki Rabiu Kwankwaso Amos Sayo Alapansapa Yusuf Arowosaye Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani Abdulrasheed Akogun Kulende-UITH PharmAccess Foundation Amuda Aluko Bilikis Oladimeji Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo Students Union Government Odolaye Aremu Makama Of Kaiama Yaman Umar Yakubu Jaja KSIRS Sheriff Olanrewaju Saliu Tunde Bello Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq

