Next month’s elections must go on as scheduled,
theUnited States (U.S.) said yesterday.
There have been unpopular suggestions of a shift in
some circles, with the tacit support of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
The position of the U.S was conveyed in Lagos
yesterday by Secretary of State John Kerry after
separate meetings with President Goodluck
Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the top
contenders in the February 14 presidential election.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki
(rtd) gave the clearest hint yet of the interest of the
Federal Government in shifting the elections when
he declared at a lecture in Chatham House in
London last Thursday that there was nothing wrong
in postponing the polls to enable eligible Nigerians
collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The statement has attracted outrage from many
Nigerians, who likened it to a coup against the
Constitution.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned
the “advice”, saying it is a ploy to enable the ruling
party regain its breath. But the PDP has not said
anything on it.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega has, however, said a
change in date is not contemplated by the agency.
Yesterday, Kerry declared: “It is imperative these
elections happen on time and as scheduled and
must be improvements over past elections.”
He added: “They must set a new standard for this
democracy. That means, Nigerians must not only
reject violence, they have to actually promote
peace.”
Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the
State House in Marina, Lagos before meeting with
General Buhari at the U.S. Consulate House in Ikoyi.
Gen. Buhari was accompanied by APC National
Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National
Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Campaign Director
and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike
Amaechi.
The delegation arrived at the venue at about 2.41pm
and immediately went into the closed door session,
which lasted about two hours.
Kerry also cautioned against violence.
He said any politician who organised a widespread
“systematic violence” against civilian population will
be held accountable, including placing them on
diplomatic sanction.
A source said Buhari told Kerry that the APC was
against violence, adding that unruly behaviours
occurred in PDP states.
He said: “I came here today to deliver a very simple
message and I have met with both major candidates
to underscore that international community has paid
a very close attention into this election and we are
deeply committed to working with Nigerians with the
hope that they will have an election that is free of
violence and capable of instilling confidence in the
future.”
The U.S. envoy said there was need for a long-term
and comprehensive global effort to combat violent
extremism and to address its underlying causes.
Nigeria, he said, knows how such global effort is
desperately needed.
He said the U.S was concerned about the effrontery
of Boko Haram, which, he said, daily visits its
bloody campaign on innocent civilians, and attacks
villages and military installations in places like
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He said the U.S.
government deeply regretted the toll, which
insurgency was taking on the people.
Kerry dismissed the notion that there was an
alliance between Islamic State of Iraq and Levant
(ISIL) and Boko Haram, saying intelligence before
the U.S. government showed the latter sprang up
independently.
He said President Barack Obama pledged his
support for the Nigerian troops in fighting Boko
Haram insurgency. He said there was need for a
multi-national strategy that would not only crush
Boko Haram and Al-qaeda, but which would also
address the environment from where violent
extremism grows.
He said: “This is why President Obama announced
an international summit next month in Washington
on combating violent extremism around the world. It
will be held at the White House and it will be at the
ministerial level and we hope to bring people
together; they will be engaged on the fight against
Boko Haram and other entities. So, we can share
best practices and we can hear from people about
what they need and what they think is necessary to
summon stronger global response.”
The envoy said the best way to combat Boko Haram
is by organising peaceful, credible and transparent
election, which he said is essential for any thriving
democracy. Nigeria, which he described as the
largest thriving democracy in Africa, cannot afford
to miss the opportunity.
“I met with President Jonathan earlier today
(yesterday) and separately with Gen. (Muhammadu)
Buhari. I was encouraged to hear once again from
both men that, this is exactly what they intend to do;
to try to press for election that would be held with
credibility, which people of Nigeria want and
deserve.
“As President Jonathan said in his New Year’s
message, ‘none of our political ambitions is worth
the blood of any of our countrymen, women and
children’. And as Gen. Buhari recently twitted,
‘electoral violence is unacceptable and every
Nigerian life is sacred’. Both candidates have also
signed on to the so-called Abuja Accord, which
commits them to running exclusively issue-based
campaigns, refraining from violence before during
and after election day; And speaking out against
violence.
“This is a commitment we need to see from
everyone. And they are commitments that need to
be kept. Many people are stepping out. For
example, Comrade (Attahiru) Jega, chairman of
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
and the commission’s employees are taking
concrete steps to guarantee these elections are
successful. We also urge all Nigerian governors to
call for peaceful democratic engagements. We ask
all parties, candidates to do the same.”
If any candidate had reason to doubt the outcome of
the election, Kerry said such a person should
explore the legal channel, which he said is the most
viable option and fundamental to the democratic
process.
He said Nigeria remained a strategic partner of the
United States and has critical roles to play in
development of Africa. The envoy said U.S.
government was committed to ensuring the general
elections are successful, noting that President
Obama, last week, sent an Electoral Security
Adviser to advise INEC on security and risk for any
violence that might emerge.
Kerry said: “Let me be clear. Anyone who
participates in widespread systematic violence
against the civilian population must be held
accountable, including ineligibility for American visa.
Violence has no place in democratic elections and I
guarantee you that the perpetrators of such
violence will not be welcomed in the United States
of America.”
The U.S. Secretary also spoke on telephone with the
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, wishing him
well “on the onerous task of conducting an election
that will be acceptable to all Nigerians and deemed
credible by international community.”

How is that ur (US) business?........do u guys need Jesus to come down from heaven to tell u people how much we hate u being around us?..haba

why would they poke their nose into our matter? it is their business if election do not hold next month?

clevvermind:
why would they poke their nose into our matter? it is their business if election do not hold next month?

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