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

Date: 2015-03-22

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.

Ejidongari     CCB     New Nigeria People’s Party     Government High School Adeta     Aishatu Ahmed Gobir     Saad Omo Iya     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Baaziki Sulaiman     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Okin Biscuit     Abdulganiy Abimbola Abdussalam     Saad Omo\'ya     Rachael Obisesan     CKNG     Iponrin     Usman Rifun     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     SWAN     Edret Sabi Abel     Elewu     Adaramaja     Playing Host     Femi Oladiji     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Ayedun     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     Ayo Adeyemi     Yakubu Gobir     Erubu Oba Zubair     KWIRS     Ado Ibrahim     Young Progressives Party     Bareke     Ademola Kiyesola     Afonja Descendants Union     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Habeeb Saidu     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Gaa Olobi     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Third Estate     Busari Alabi Alausa     Egbewole     Lanre Olosunde     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Sambo Murtala     JAAC     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Mustapha Akanbi     Aliyu U. Tilde     Tope Daramola     Oladimeji Thompson     Raimi Iyanda     Oke-Ode     Omoniyi     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Segun Abifarin     Dasuki Belgore     Saka Abimbola Isau     Nigerian Army     Babaloja-General     LEAH Charity Foundation     Wahab Egbewole     ER-KANG     Femtech     Adekunle David Dunmade     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Baboko     Dairo Kunle Paul     Shuaibu Yaman     Offa Descendants Union     Garment Factory     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Ahman Patigi     Moremi High School     Academic Staff Union Of Universities    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Post-utme     Federal Allocation     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Alabi Lawal     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Oke-Oyi     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Bankole Omisore     Justina Oha     Ibrahim Mashood     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Ogbondoroko     Ibrahim Mohammed     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Rafiu Ibrahim     Abioye Bello     TESCOM     Kwara State Pension Board     Sabi     Vasolar Consortium     Umar Adelodun     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     John Olajide Adedipe     Ilorin Metro Park     Balogun-Ojomu     Tuesday Assayomo     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Playing Host     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     James Kolo     Sa\'adu Gambari     Abatemi-Usman     Oro Grammar School     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Oluranti Idowu     Femi Ogunsola     Eghe Igbinehi     Hussein Oloyede     Yahaya Muhammad     Kazeem Adekanye     Hijaab     Code Of Conduct Bureau     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Kulende-UITH     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Kamaldeen Gambari     Abiodun Abdulkareem     Isiaq Khadeejah     Kemi Adeosun     Siraj Oyewale     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Abdulraheem Olesin     Saka Asiat Ayinke     General Hospital, Offa     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Tinubu     Kayode Bankole     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Imam Gambari     Lanre Badmus     Olaoye B. Felix     Muhammed Aliyu     Bola Sagaya     Micheal Imoudu     SWAN     Bayer AG     Neo Mundo Ltd     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Hassanat Bello     Baba-Isale     Yakub Ali-Agan     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Shururat Olatinwo     Bayo Ajia     Ahmed Bolaji Nagode     IDPU