The Sokoto sultanate, fellowship of Christian Council of West Africa and other Nigerians have called on politicians and other stakeholders for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
NAN reports that the stakeholders spoke at a forum on Religious Leaders Consultation Towards Peaceful 2019 General Elections in Nigeria, organised by International Centre For Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony (ICIPH) in Abuja on Thursday.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, who was represented by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, stressed the need for all Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious inclination, to promote peaceful coexistence to ensure economic growth and development in the country.
Abubakar identified peace as a factor for any nation that wanted development and urged Nigerians to guard against anything that could threaten the peace currently being enjoyed in the country.
He, however, urged politicians and other stakeholders to do their best to ensure credible elections in 2019, adding that it is the wisest course to peace and progress in the country.
According to him, the ICIPH will continue to mobilise religious leaders in the nation to promote peace and harmony among Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.
He said religious leaders were key to ensuring lasting peace in the country, adding that they had a crucial role to play in ensuring religious harmony among Christians and Muslims in the country.
“The religious leaders will therefore use their existing platforms to propagate the message of peace and tolerance,” he said.
Vice President, Christian Council of West Africa, Rev. Benebo Fubara-Manuel, advised politicians to desist from their attitude of desperation for power.
“Peace is important. If we kill ourselves because of elections, in the end, who are we going to lead?”
Fubara-Manuel called for peaceful period of campaign by all the political parties, urging Nigerians to reject political violence, inter or intra party violence in the elections.
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