The Joint Body also called on all Nigerians to pray fervently for Almighty God to guide the country to freely and transparently elect a new leader.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Joint Body of the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution, also known as Joint Body, has called on the Nigerian populace to take the 2023 general elections seriously due to the myriad of challenges confronting the nation.
The body stated this in a press release on Thursday signed by the Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe; the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Dr Chibuzo Opoko; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu; and the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr Valerian Okeke.
“With less than two weeks to the 2023 General Elections, the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of the Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution (The Joint Body) hereby calls on all Nigerians to do their utmost to ensure that the elections take place in a free, fair and transparent atmosphere. This would enable the best candidates to emerge as our new President, Governors, and legislators to lead the nation in addressing the numerous socio-economic challenges that we currently face,” the statement said.
“Indeed, these are probably the most perilous times for the country since the Civil War with a myriad of challenges. From pervasive insecurity, a faltering economy and fiscal insolvency, mounting youth unemployment, widespread corruption, and growing despair; to the trauma from the combined effects of run-away inflation, the poorly managed currency exchange exercise, and unabating fuel scarcity and black market price hikes, there is unprecedented pressure on the fault lines that define our plural nation. The sense of impending dire consequences should these issues not be rapidly defused, is palpable.
“And yet there are further unprecedented developments that add complexity to the context of the 2023 General Elections including the greater awareness of the younger generation of their civic rights and responsibilities to vote and be voted for in the electoral process; the power and influence of pervasive, decentralized social media on youth who represent that largest voter demographic in the history of Nigeria’s democracy, and the emergence of alternatives to the hitherto dominant political parties that have held power at the national level which has raised the stakes and fragmented the electorate. The ensuing robust electioneering campaigns by the parties as well as the animated debates by the populace in the various news media have crystalized the issues that will confront our new political leadership. For many pundits, this election, if properly conducted, could pave the way for good governance in the country and, therefore, must not fail.”
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The body listed certain requirements for an orderly, peaceful, harmonious, and unifying general election.
It said, “We implore the Federal and State Governments and their relevant agencies to do their utmost to ensure that the elections are free, fair and transparent. This would eliminate or minimize any post-election disputes and enable the winners to gain the immediate support of the electorate in confronting the challenges at hand.
“We beseech all registered voters to come out in full force to exercise their constitutional rights and responsibilities of voting for the candidates of their choice without fear or favour. We urge the electorates to resist any intimidation or efforts to compromise their conscience with cheap financial or material gestures that could provide momentary comfort but impoverish and compromise them for four years or longer through bad governance.
“We remind the electorate, the political class, and candidates for elective offices that they share the highest responsibility for strengthening our nascent democratic culture through their lawful conduct. Unfortunately, the Peace Accord signed by all the presidential candidates under the auspices of the National Peace Committee, headed by General Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd), GCFR, has been seriously violated on several occasions, including murder and serious bodily harm. Accordingly, we call again on the leaders of all political parties and their candidates to remind their supporters, stakeholders, and party faithful, to commit unequivocally to non-violence and maintenance of peace during the elections and beyond.
“We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rise to its statutory mandate in delivering a flawless election with all the technology and human capacity at its disposal. It is crucial for the body to reassure the nation of the practical integrity of its processes to forestall illegal tampering with the election results. Mindful that a distinct proportion of the electorates will be first-time voters, INEC should devise simple and handy instructions for such voters in order that their votes would not be invalidated.
“We reiterate that the security agencies have a solemn duty to guarantee the peaceful and free movement of people who come out to exercise their civic duties, as well as prevent troublemakers from disrupting the elections, and prevent attacks on any section of the people based on ethnicity, religion or party affiliations before, during or after the elections. We urge that they devote particular attention to the Southeast, North East and North Central geo-political zones where insecurity, violence, kidnapping for ransom, shedding of innocent blood, and attacks on public buildings and uniformed officers, have prevailed for a long time.
“We make the above recommendations based on the fact that much of our current circumstances are linked directly and indirectly to the primary challenge of forging a pathway to inclusive and prosperous nationhood. Along this journey, there have been mistakes, missteps and misunderstandings, all too often leading to tragic losses in lives, property, and even hope in the promise of our nation. Yet, there is no grievance that cannot be resolved through dialogue and the spirit of compromise and sacrifice. It is in the name of Almighty God therefore, that we urge all those who perpetrate these criminal and inhuman activities for whatever reasons and under whatever guises to think again about the pains they are inflicting on their fellow citizens and the entire country. We urge them to down their weapons and heed the calls to accept offers of amnesty quit the forests and join forces with the governments as partners for the development of our nation.
“On our part, the Joint Body is calling on all traditional rulers in the country to work in concert with their town and community leadership to ensure a conducive environment for the elections in their domains. We also call on all religious leaders of Islamic, Christian and other religions, to admonish their faithful to be of good conduct as they perform their constitutional duties of participating in the electoral process in their numbers.”
The Joint Body also called on all Nigerians to pray fervently for Almighty God to guide the country to freely and transparently elect a new leader imbued with vision, wisdom, courage, compassion, and the fear of God, to restore good governance and lead the nation in the direction of its true destiny as a leader of African and Black peoples the world over.