POLL: PRESIDENT JONATHAN, BUHARI RENEW PEACE PACT
POLL: PRESIDENT JONATHAN, BUHARI
RENEW PEACE PACT
With two days to the keenly contested
presidential election in Nigeria, the two
leading candidates, President Goodluck
Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party
and General Mohammed Buhari of the All
Progressives Congress, have both
reinstated their commitment to the Peace
Accord they both signed earlier in the
year.
The second meeting brokered by
the Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s led
National Peace Committee on 2015
Elections was held at the Sheraton Hotels
in Abuja on Thursday morning.
On the January 14th both men along side
other presidential candidates had signed
what is now famously known as the Abuja
Accord, and Thursday they renewed the
accord to reassure the world and make
Nigerians understand that this country is
more important than their own
aspirations and that people should live
and reflect the ideals of this.
Abubakar in his remarks, said the peace
committee was set up after Abuja Accord
signed by both President Jonathan and
Gen. Buhari.
“This committee has been working round
the clock to assist the parties and
Nigerians to ensure that there is peace
and harmony before, during and after the
elections this time around.
“Mr. President was kind enough to see us
yesterday (Wednesday), one he is the
President of the country and secondly he
is a contestant. And this morning Gen.
Buhari despite his late arrival last night or
early arrival this morning, was kind
enough to meet with this committee.
“In essence all the meetings were held to
brief them the current situation of the
country and what we expect of them as
stakeholders and as presidential
candidates.
“I want to thank both the President and
Gen. Buhari for finding time to meet with
the committee. And I want to thank both
party chairmen for the support received in
trying to send this message of peace.
“I’m happy both parties, the contestants
are committed to free and fair elections,
free of violence. And this morning a
document to reiterate their commitment
for this peaceful and for the forthcoming
elections”, he stated.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement
by President Goodluck Jonathan and
Major General Muhammad Buhari on
Thursday, March 26, 2015 ahead of the
2015 presidential elections, reads:
“You may recall that on 14th January
2015, both of us, long with nine other
party leaders signed what has now come
to be known as the Abuja Accord. The
substance of that Accord was our
commitment to free, fair and credible
elections in our dear country.
“In the Accord, we agreed to, among other
things, run an issue-based campaign and
pledged that our electoral campaigns will
not involve any religious incitement,
ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves
and all agents acting in our names.
“Now that the campaigns have come to an
end, we meet today to renew our pledge
for peaceful elections. We therefore call
on all fellow citizens of our dear country,
and our part supporters, to refrain from
violence or any acts that may in any way
jeopardise our collective vision of a free,
fair and credible election.
“In addition, we call on INEC and all
security agencies to ensure strict
adherence to their constitutional roles. We
also pledge to respect the outcome of free,
fair and credible elections.
“Today, we again renew our commitment
to a united, democratic and prosperous
Nigeria. We want to all Nigerians to stand
together at this critical phase of our
nation’s history.
“Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless you all.
“Signed by Jonathan, Buhari and
Abdusalam Abubakar”.
