By Chesa Chesa
A coalition of civil society organisations has condemned in strong terms any advocacy or plan to foist an interim government on Nigeria in the aftermath of the February 25 presidential election, which is being contested in court by the major opposition political parties.
The organisations, numbering over 50, led by Citizens For Development And Education (CDE), Center For Peace And Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and Nigerian Peace Advocates, made their stance on the state of the nation known at a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, Executive Director of CDE; and Comrade Mulade Sheriff, Executive Director of CEPEJ, addressed the press, urging them to help the nation by avoiding disseminating information and broadcasts that can worsen the insecurity in the nation or lead the country to the path towards the “Rwanda experience”.
According to the group: “Although it is natural for people to have their own expectations in a particular election, that should not be a reason to take away our sense of maturity, reasoning and judgment to think of what is right or wrong, especially at a larger perspectives where the lives of many innocent citizens may be at stake”.
It further pointed out that “our increased concerns center on the continuous promotion of incitement and uncomplimentary statement from the quarters of the aggrieved politicians, and other enemies of our country who have also systematically taken cover under the pretext of the conduct of elections to cause chaos and disharmony amongst the Nigerian citizens.
“This situation therefore calls for a concerted efforts to contain the boiling angers of some Nigerians, whose expectations turned out to be negative.
“The negativity that is on trial, needs nothing less than a holistic healing of the wound and reconciliation, to salvage and secure our country from imminent threat of disunity and disharmony.”
They therefore, declared that: “We wish to unequivocally condemn all advocacies for the establishment of Interim Government in Nigeria;
“We condemn all utterances and unguarded statements promoted directly or through proxy by any politician or religious leader along ethnic, regional or religious sentiment capable of inciting violence in Nigeria, especially at this critical period of our democratic transition;
“That, all media organizations should further exercise restraint in the interest of peace and national unity on all broadcast that may create confusion and or aggravate our fragile security situation, by x-raying all content before airing to avoid Rwanda experience in Nigeria;
“That Nigerians should not fall into a trap of any sentiments to serve the interest of any desperate and greedy political leaders;
“That, all aggrieved politicians should stick to legal process for redress as provided by our legal system, and should desist from threatening, intimidating and discrediting the same system he or she is seeking to serve
“That, International Organizations and Communities should exercise restraint in submitting to the sentiments of some politicians, who are hell bent on destabilizing the country, as Nigeria direly needs the support of its friends at this critical time of transition, to salvage our nascent democracy in the interest of Africa’s stability and the world at large;
“That, we strongly urge and advise the incoming administration to run an all-inclusive government to give a sense of belonging to every region, ethnic, religious and political affiliations.”
