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.
Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah Sidikat Uthman Ajibola Logun Taofik Mustapha Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq Boko Haram Simon Sayomi Alimi Abdulrazaq Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa Elerinjare-Ibobo NNPP Toyin Abdullahi Kwara Liberation Group Abdulfatai Salman Baakini Salau Kabiru Abdullahi David Adesina Dauda Adeniran Adeshola Allocation Kwara Consultative Forum Mahe Abdulkadir Opaleke Bukola Iyabo Zubair Folorunsho Erubu Abikan Abdulquowiyu Olododo Kwara North Emir Of Yashikira Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez NYSC KWAFFA Yusuf Abdulkadir Kwara State Football Association Abubakar Suleiman Modibbo Kawu Valsolar Consortium Kwara State Sports Commission Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi Ayodele Olaosebikan Abdulsalam A. Yusuf Muhammad Ghali Alaaya Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye Oluronke Adeyemi Elections Toyin Falola Abdulrosheed Okiki Arandun Abdul Jimoh Mohammed Yaman Olaiya Lawal Roseline Oni Aremu Odo-Owa Muslim Cementary Jare Olatundun Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen Maimunat Oniyangi Abiodun Abdulkareem Akorede Babatunde Ajeigbe Kwara TV Temitope Ogunbanke Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Mutawali Of Ilorin NIRSAL Dankaka Yoruba Minimum Wage Kayode Laro Shade Omoniyi Olumide Daniel Ibitoye Wole Oke Usman Yunusa Ibraheem Abdullateef Olajumoke Monsura Gafar Tunde Oyawoye Maja Aishat Sulu-Gambari Oke-Ero EFCC

