President Goodluck Jonathan (right)
receiving United States Secretary of
State, John Kerry, in Lagos... on Sunday

The United States has advised Nigeria against
postponing the general elections scheduled for next
month.

The US Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry, gave the
advice after he met the candidates of the Peoples
Democratic Party, President Goodluck Jonathan
and All Progressives Congress Maj. Gen.
Muhamadu Buhari (retd.) in Lagos on Sunday.

Kerry said that the US would deny entry visa to
any Nigerian politician responsible for fomenting
violence during the February elections.
He urged the Federal Government not to postpone
the elections as being canvassed by the National
Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
The secretary of state said, “Given the stakes, it’s
absolutely critical that these elections are
conducted peacefully.”

Kerry was in Nigeria to urge the political class to
respect the outcome of the February 14 presidential
election.

He explained that Washington was concerned
that post-election violence could undermine the
stability of Nigeria and hamper the fight
against terrorism.
It will be recalled that three days of rioting
trailed the 2011 general elections which saw
Buhari losing to Jonathan.
Kerry said, “Nobody gains by violence, nobody
gains by turning a political disagreement into a
killing spree … The proof will be in the actions
that are taken in the course of the election and
afterwards.

, “Anyone who participates in, plans or calls for
violence against the civilian population must be
held accountable, including by ineligibility for an
American visa. Perpetrators of such violence would
not be welcome in the US.”
In an apparent response to Dasuki’s call, Kerry
said, “It is imperative that Nigeria holds its
elections on time.”
Dasuki had in London last week called for the
postponement of the elections to allow the
Independent National Electoral Commission
distribute more Permanent Voter Cards to
Nigerians.

An unconfirmed source said Kerry also spoke
with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, on the telephone.
He was said to have urged Jega to ensure that the
polls, which would determine how the US relates
to Nigeria in future, were credible.
Kerry also said that the US remained committed
to helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram.

http://www.punchng.com/news/us-to-nigeria-dont-postpone-elections/

ANGELIC INTERVENTION!!!