Politics
2019 election: Abdulsalami Abubakar warns against Nigeria’s disintegration
Former Head of state , Gen . Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Friday said he will forever be an enemy of anyone that tried to hinder the democratic development of Nigeria or plunge Nigeria into crisis .
Abdualsalami said this at the Maiden Edition of General Abdulsalami Abubakar Foundation Peace Lecture , organised by the staff and students of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Post Graduate Students ’ Hall of the University of Ibadan. The lecture was titled ; “ Collaborative Peace Building in Nigeria , ”
He cautioned politicians against disrupting the 2019 general elections , saying “ we have no other place to run to should the country be engulfed by fire ” .
According to the former head of state , Nigeria cannot be that great nation we all want , except we all agree to collectively work together and collaborate on peace .
“ Peace is not absence of disagreement . Every society must have disagreements . This is because we are not born alike, even twins do not operate in a like manner , ” hence there is nothing wrong with people having disagreements .
“ What is expected is that when we have disagreements we would find peaceful solutions to the issues , ” he said .
He said there can be no sustainable development where people find it difficult to deal with the problems around them peacefully .
“ It is therefore , my honest opinion that we are going nowhere until we have a national consensus to work for peace .
“ What our politicians should focus upon at a time like this is to be working with professionals on how to make a difference in 2019 . ”
The former head of state stressed the need for Nigerians to focus more on addressing the escalating development crisis in the land .
“ No matter how good those managing INEC are , if things are not well managed as they are , it might be difficult for us to have credible elections in 2019 , ” he said .
He advised the students to reject being used in the forthcoming elections and not be allowed to be dragged into electoral malfeasance and violence .
He also appealed to politicians to be more conciliatory in their relationship and public utterances .
“ INEC must be an unbiased umpire . The security agencies in the country must be fair to all , people must be free to vote their leaders ” .
The Vice Chancellor of the University , Prof Idowu Olayinka , praised the former head of state , adding “ it is very rare for a military head of state to say he has to grant the wishes of the people for a democratic government .
“ This is the kind of things we need in Nigeria for our leaders to forge peace in the country , ” he haid .
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the University presented a peace award to Gen . Abdulsalami , while a cafeteria was built in his honour .
Some Dignitaries at the event included former minister of Petroleum , Tam David West , the GOC , 2 Division , Fidelis Azinta , former Executive Secretary , TETFund Prof . Suleiman Bogoro and the state governor , Abiola Ajimobi .
( NAN )
Follow us on social media:
“Maybe the child is not his” – AY Comedian and estranged wife Mabel reportedly battle over custody of their second child
“Northern governors not opposed to tax reforms, just VAT distribution” – Abdullahi Sule
Security guard who shot his wife, their child and k!lled two sisters-in-law sentenced to 35 years imprisonment
Man celebrates growth, moves roadside ‘suya’ business to big shop in UK
Missing 35-year-old man found dead near Ogun stream
Auto crash claims three lives in Jigawa
“I am not happy about it” – Paul Okoye’s wife, Ivy speaks on his birthday message to his ex-wife, Anita, her stepchildren, and Psquare’s split (Video)
