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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
The National Peace Committee (NPC), the Secretariat of The Kukah Centre, yesterday disclosed that the 16 candidates participating in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State,would sign a peace deal next week in Awka.
Executive Director of the Centre and Head of the Secretariat of the NPC, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, made the disclosure in Awka during a pre-election engagement with stakeholders.
“We, at Kukah Centre, have come to work with you people, who are on ground, and know the social and cultural make up of this state. We are coming to see what we can do to consolidate the peace you already have here.
“We will be here next week for the signing of the peace accord, and members of the National Peace Committee, and the chairman, Gen. Abdulsalami Abukakar would be here.
“We have notified the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and the candidates. We do this so that if after the election there is a problem, we will be able to sit with those who are involved to make peace. With that accord, the peace committee will have the moral right to step in and resolve issues.
“Most stories about killings that we hear are rumours, misinformation and outright lies. The impression they give us is that there is insecurity everywhere and this is why the National Peace Committee headed by Gen. Abukakar came to work with you people to ensure that the forthcoming election is peaceful.
“We have a natural responsibility to pass a peaceful state to the unborn generation because we will be outlived by the state. The state belongs to you all and in the next 50 years, you may not be here, but you owe it to the unborn generation to pass a peaceful state to them,” Barkindo said.
On the expectations of the committee, he said: “Our expectation is that the election will be peaceful, we have to let INEC do their job, especially now that we have a brand new chairman.
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“We are hoping that Anambra will be the first state where he will hold an election and things will look completely different, not just for Anambra but for Nigeria as a whole, with a very credible and transparent electoral process. These are our expectations.
“Our fears are normal, fear of unforeseen circumstances, something that can suddenly emerge. We will be relying on the security services for that, their intelligence gathering, so that if there is anything that eventually emerges, they can treat it.
“We are advising the candidates to conduct themselves well, in decent manners that reflect the values they stand for. Our code of conduct in the National Peace Committee applies to all of them. We expect that every political party will have a situation room, there are agencies constitutionally empowered to deal with violence, so they should not encourage their supporters to take up arms against anyone.
Nobody’s blood is worth spilling for his election.
“So, we expect the candidates who are leaders of their political parties to lead their supporters aright. They should comply with the laws and with those who are in charge of the various sections of the election.
“Even the voters should conduct themselves well. We are also warning against posting of fake results, misinformation, disinformation, sharing of fake images, things that have the potential to provoke people and incite them to violence. We are calling on all the people of Anambra to please desist from these.
“Anambra is one of the most progressive, enterprising and ingenious states in Nigeria. They are known for innovation and we want that spirit of peace to lead as we go into the election.”
Meanwhile, the peace accord which the governorship candidates will sign next week was presented at the event attended by various heads of security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society, media and governorship contenders.
